This special was the subject of some minor tabloid controversy, as ITV were believed to be pressured to include less light-weight fare in their Christmas schedules, which resulted in viewer complaints about the scheduling of an opera during the Christmas celebrations.
The broadcast was eventually shifted to the 27th, with some of the surrounding media criticism discussed at the start of Bernstein on Fidelio (1972).
The broadcast was eventually shifted to the 27th, with some of the surrounding media criticism discussed at the start of Bernstein on Fidelio (1972).