The Mandy Christmas special has been pulled from BBC’s festive schedule just days before it was due to air, with Beetlejuice moved up to fill the slot
Whilst countless families nationwide prepare to settle in for festive television binges next week, BBC bosses have made a sudden alteration to the Christmas programming by axing one of their supposed premier shows from the lineup.
Originally scheduled to broadcast on Monday, December 22 at 10:25pm, the corporation has confirmed that the Mandy 2025 Christmas special has been yanked from the timetable and delayed until next year. Titled The Mandy Who Knew Too Much, the late-evening programme was due to air on BBC2 starring Diane Morgan.
In the wake of this unexpected withdrawal, the beloved cult film Beetlejuice has been brought forward from its 10:45pm slot to plug the gap.
Given that the BBC had previously championed the Mandy programme as one of its standout specials for 2025, many viewers are baffled by its sudden removal, reports the Daily Record.
According to the British Comedy Guide, the BBC is reportedly planning to modify portions of the episode ahead of its rescheduled broadcast, now anticipated to air in 2026, reports the Mirror.
Nevertheless, it remains undisclosed which particular scene or sequences the executives deemed necessary to alter.
Reports suggest that the Christmas special for the comedy series was shot earlier this year, alongside the remainder of the current series.
The programme centres on Mandy, portrayed as a “hapless, jobless heroine”, whose escapades typically culminate in catastrophe. Following the withdrawal, devoted viewers of the comedy programme have flocked to social media platforms to theorise about why the yuletide episode required alterations.
One user posted on X: “I wouldn’t be surprised if it was that there were some Trump jokes or something along those lines and they were scared of adding to the ‘lawsuit’.”
Meanwhile, another contributor pondered: “Is it something that the BBC doesn’t want us to hear and laugh at? Does Dianne’s (character, Mandy) moan about the Labour Party? Donald Trump? Ex-Duke Of York?”.
“Come on, it’s a superb comedy! Isn’t comedy supposed to take risks and give us something to laugh and chat about!”.
A third enthusiast also theorised: “That strongly suggests there is a joke or scene that is relevant to a recent event or something and they think it will ‘offend’ some. Ridiculous if the case.”
The present synopsis for the Christmas episode states: “Mandy rarely dabbles in global diplomacy, especially over Christmas when it’s so cold out and there’s good telly on, but when she does, you can bet that she makes a real difference to the balance of power in the world.”
A BBC representative confirmed to the Mirror: “The Mandy Christmas Special has been moved to 2026.”
It is also understood that the choice to withdraw the programme bears no connection to Donald Trump, with the President neither appearing nor being referenced in the episode. In other news, a source revealed to The Sun: “The special was actually shot almost a year ago in January 2025, and there were parts that were out of date so the edit is being updated.”
The insider further clarified: “It couldn’t be done in time for Christmas transmission but it will air.”
Mandy first hit our screens in 2020 and has since enjoyed three more successful series. The fourth season concluded in August this year, featuring guest appearances from Martin Lewis and Paddy McGuinness.
Diane Morgan, the show’s creator and star, is one of the UK’s leading comedy talents. She’s best known for her role as the hapless journalist Philomena Cunk, and has also starred in Ricky Gervais’ After Life and the BBC sitcom Motherland.
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