The day this episode aired, the Daily Mirror published a column by Hilary Kingsley (13th December 1985) entitled "Is Wogan getting too big for the box?" Allegations about Terry being overbearing and the research team being "thoroughly demoralised" were made.
The following week (16th December 1985) the newspaper printed a reply from the then-head of the BBC, Bill Cotton, stating that "We all enjoy a good fairy tale at Christmas, and Hilary Kingsley's article Is Wogan getting too big for the box? was a delightful flight of the imagination. [...] I cannot remember an artist less spoilt by success than Terry."
The following week (16th December 1985) the newspaper printed a reply from the then-head of the BBC, Bill Cotton, stating that "We all enjoy a good fairy tale at Christmas, and Hilary Kingsley's article Is Wogan getting too big for the box? was a delightful flight of the imagination. [...] I cannot remember an artist less spoilt by success than Terry."