This Christmas Day edition was the ninth most-watched programme on UK television that week, with 15.85 million viewers.
This edition was moved from the show's usual 7pm timeslot to 10pm, to accommodate BBC1's Christmas Day line up.
Terry Wogan was disappointed with this special episode, noting in his 2006 autobiography "Mustn't Grumble" that he felt the production team were: "desperately trying to piece together the shards of a good idea smashed to smithereens by people who, having promised the earth and dragged us all the way to the West Coast of America, couldn't, or couldn't be bothered, delivering. We got bits and pieces, chats in various locations with the main players; I walked down the staircase of the Carrington mansion. It was OK when it was all edited together-just a series of interviews interwoven- but it was a far cry from the advertised Christmas with the Carringtons, and there wasn't much festive cheer when it transmitted. The press lies in wait for those whom they think have had an easy ride, and this was their chance. They panned the thing, and I hate to say it, but they were right."
This was the second and final time that the series was broadcast on Christmas Day.
The most embarrassing part of this special for the Wogan crew was the fact that Dynasty's biggest star, Joan Collins, didn't appear, but was a guest that same evening on ITV's Episode #9.12 (1985).