Best Channel: E4. Making a real splash with some well selected imports (Glee) plus occasional home grown offerings (Skins, The Inbetweeners, Misfits) that make it hard to ignore.
Feel free to add what you think I've missed.
From a ratings point of view, I would disagree about E4 being the Channel of the Year.
There's no doubt that The Inbetweeners was a massive, massive success. No-one here would've thought a year ago that a digital programme would be averaging 3m+ in the officials every week. Glee has been a fantastic acquisition and, of course, both Skins and Misfits did very well too.
But those four programmes are only about 40 hours of the entire year. Outside of these four programmes (and maybe The Big Bang Theory), the channel has been doing pretty poorly on a regular basis: its 2010 share until November was 1.8% (inc. +1) which was E4's lowest annual share (Jan-Nov) since 2005. So the channel hasn't really grown in share over the last few years unlike its major competitors.
It's all well and good on having 2-3 "marquee programmes" which get mega-ratings for them but it's no good overall if the bread and butter of the schedule isn't performing up to standards. If you look on BARB, viewers are watching E4 for about the same no. of minutes per week these days as a couple of years ago. Even with the "big hitters" there's been barely any increase, and that's because the day to day schedule isn't particularly good. Friends is still a reasonable ratings performer for them (though not at the level it was a couple of years ago) but I wonder how are they going to replace all those hours of it with the same kind of ratings once the rights go to Comedy Central?
I think BBC3 has done a better job this year. It might not have the "mega-ratings" hits of Inbetweeners or Glee but they've made improvements in both their day to day schedules and new commissions. Russell Howard, Lip Service, Him & Her are new programmes which have come through in the last year and been hits - that's already 2 more new hits than E4 have had this year (Glee being their only one). Even though initially they weren't ratings hits a few years ago, programmes like Don't Tell The Bride and Family Guy have flourished in the last 12 months, partly due to better scheduling and more support given to them. Family Guy, in particular, has done wonders in all sorts of timeslots, even beating terrestrial competition and it repeats incredibly well. Also the stable scheduling of EastEnders repeats for all these years has paid off - even non-clash episodes nowadays can get 1m+ which wasn't the case a couple of years ago.
In addition to the above, they've had a range of documentaries in the last year which have had almost or more than 1m viewers: Eddie Izzard Marathon Man, Small Teen Big World, Underage & Pregnant, World's Strictest Parents, to name a few. Also I forgot to mention Being Human which did really well for its last series. BBC3's 2010 share has been 1.4% - a steady improvement compared to the previous year (and it's been their best ever year ratings-wise) and I'm sure I read in a press release that their 16-34 profile has rocketed in the last few years. Credit to Danny Cohen for doing so well at BBC3.
I think if there's one thing BBC3 needs is a new hit American drama series, especially after the axing of Heroes which IIRC was doing well on BBC3 particularly in the early years. But apart from that, BBC3's looking pretty solid and making good progress in the ratings (better progress IMO than E4).
Great idea sn_22! Here's my ratings review of 2010 following the same format:
Hit of the year The Inbetweeners. Completely agree on this one. Has raised the bar very high indeed for multi-channel, often putting its parent station to shame ratings wise. Flop of the year The Bill at 9pm. Holy mackerel, what a disaster this was - very sad way for a long running British drama of this calibre to end. New hit of the year Downton Abbey. Credit to ITV for finally putting that mega X Factor lead-in to good use. Managed to outclass the BBC's Upstairs, Downstairs revival to become one of the biggest shows of 2010. Jaw-dropper of the year Madness in the Fast Lane. Performed extremely well with little fanfare in a late BBC slot in the middle of a quiet (World Cup excluded) summer. The BBC Three EE Aftermath show is also high up there. Mystifying rating of the year Countryfile. Okay so it made the leap to early primetime in 2009 but 2010 has been another great year for it, hitting new highs. No idea how it has managed to became the Sunday night powerhouse that it has. Not that it's a bad show per se, but it's just very unlike anything else that rates so highly. A rare feat for BBC One under Jay Hunt. “So glad that flopped” of the year The Taking of Prince Harry. C4 trying to drum up controversy to get ratings again. Yawn. Dire attempt with this weak docudrama that must go down as one of the most pointless programmes of the year. "Such a shame that flopped" of the year Don't Step Believing. It had all the hallmarks of a hit, and was marketed extremely well by the network, but yet again C5 failed to win viewers over with this high profile UK commission. Richard Woolfe's last hurrah.
Best Channel
Easiest one so far. Channel 5 without a doubt. Making good progress, particularly post 8pm and has the best range of programmes out of the commercial broadcasters overall. Only inadequate area is homegrown drama, incidentally where ITV1 is strongest. Honourable mention E4. Strong brand, good look and feel to the channel, and crucially, very good mix of programmes that resonate well with its key demographic. Often punches above its weight, particularly when it comes to homegrown drama and comedy. (could teach C5 a thing or two here) Tellingly, in a year in which one of its highest rated programmes Hollyoaks collapsed, the channel has come out relatively unscathed because it has strengthened in other areas. Next year will be testing for it though as Friends comes out of rotation. Worst Channel ITV2. Most of its programmes are pure crap, but somehow rate. Whilst its main rivals BBC Three and E4 have upped their game this year, ITV2 has gone backwards. Gone are the engaging & current dramas like Call Girl and Trinity, and in their place more cheap reality dross. For the generous budget that it has to work with, it isn't going very far. Very poor excuse for a sixth channel. Dishonourable mention More4. Whilst still infinitely more credible than ITV2, More4 is also going backwards rapidly after a strong start in the year or two following its launch in 2005. The demise of More4 News and now The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is another nail in its coffin, with True Stories and The Good Wife becoming the only two worthwhile original programmes left. The rest is just a mix of C4 repeats, film repeats and the odd exclusive buried at a ridiculous time of day. The name of the channel is becoming ironic as they take more and more away. Less4 doesn't have quite the same ring to it I suppose...
I'd like to second this. It was on BBC2 at 12am on Thursday night (30th Dec). It was the final repeat by the BBC so it'd be interesting to see how it performed compared to other nights. It'd be great if they were able to end on a high.
Shooting Stars, BBC2, 10pm – The Christmas special of the Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer comedy quiz show could only manage 1.3 million viewers between 10pm and 10.30pm, a 5.6% share, with another 32,000 viewers on BBC HD.
It followed the Rob Brydon Show, which had 1.9 million viewers (7.7%) between 9pm and 9.30pm, and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, which had 1.7 million viewers, 6.7% of the audience.
Only Brydon could match Channel 4 property show Phil and Kirstie's Homes for Heroes. Part of a night of programmes themed around the channel's long-running property franchise, Location, Location, Location, it averaged 1.9 million (7.6%) between 8.55pm and 10.30pm, with another 200,000 on Channel 4+1.
Not sure how that compare to previous ratings since it returned?
Just out of interest rzt, how did Dave perform last night? I ask because it had a very different lineup to its usual blend of panel shows and Top Gear.
1900-2100 Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments
2100-2300 Fawlty Towers Re-Opened
2300-0100 Fawlty Towers Exclusive: Basil's Best Bits
Thanks guys, it's a pretty low rating although it only managed ~1.5m for the last 2 series after it returned (after the initial boost due to the revival). Not sure if it'll be enough for a recommission, unfortunately.
Just out of interest rzt, how did Dave perform last night? I ask because it had a very different lineup to its usual blend of panel shows and Top Gear.
...:
Hit of the year
The Inbetweeners. I wanted to be original but it's hard to disagree with this one.
Flop of the year
The Prisoner. Though no one was expecting it to hold on to all of Britain's Got Talent's audience it lost even more than expected.
New hit of the year
Downton Abbey. Again, I can't be original with this. Downton Abbey has immediately established itself as a high rating drama.
Jaw-dropper of the year
Your Country Needs You - for all the wrong reasons. I expected it to do much better than it did. Awful rating and TBH awful show from start to finish.
Mystifying rating of the year
Antiques Roadshow - while always doing ok it never set the ratings board alight yet all of a sudden it's doing brilliantly.
“So glad that flopped” of the year
Planet Jedward - enough is enough of desperate celebs flogging their wares for all it's worth.
"Such a shame that flopped" of the year
Married, Single, Other. Thank goodness Downton came along, but it'd have been nice if ITV1 had another new non-crime drama doing well this year.
Best Channel
E4 - it's had a great year while it's sister channel is fading somewhat. Great commissioning, a good mix of shows and showing no signs of fading.
Honourable mention
ITV3 - Maybe not an advertiser's wet dream but it's still performing reasonably well with it's classic programming.
Worst Channel
ITV2 - It's all been said before. Saying that, the potential is there. They just need to utilise it.
Dishonourable mention
BBC1 - More down to the scheduling than anything else, to be fair to it.
Corrie finished at 7.56pm.
Although the caption said "Coronation Street continues in half an hour", Voiceover Man said "and Coronation Street will be back at 8.40". It returned at 8.41pm.
EastEnders was 40 minutes tonight for reasons you're probably aware of (spoiler attached)...
Hit of the year
The Inbetweeners - As others have said, the growth between series was astonishing.
Flop of the year
The Prisoner - 0.7m in primetime!
New hit of the year
Sherlock/Downton Abbey - Both did brilliantly for different reasons and circumstances.
Jaw-dropper of the year
The Prisoner - 0.7m in primetime!
Mystifying rating of the year
Merlin - several 7m+ audiences against X Factor
Countryfile - it got over 8m!
Im A Celeb - cant explain how it grew so much this year.
“So glad that flopped” of the year
Any follow a celeb with a camera rubbish on ITV2 - its just cheap. Lazy and downright crap programming.
"Such a shame that flopped" of the year
Reggie Perrin - a show that was a lot better than series 1 but just seemed to gentle and cosy for viewers nowadays.
Best Channel
BBC1 - it goes about its of producing lots of solid hits without having the mega hits like X Factor, BGT or Im A Celeb to occupy column inches yet has hardly lost any share of viewers year-on-year.
Honourable mention
ITV4 - increased its portfolio of sports very well this year with a mix of sports like Darts, Cricket and Tennis and probably got them on the cheap.
Also BBC3 for a lot of strong ratings and growing its share of 16-34s so well.
Worst Channel
C4 - so many flops and the measurement of a solid rating for C4 has gone from over 2m to around 1m. It will struggle with no Big Brother even more this year.
Dishonourable mention
ITV2 - for so much crap but luckily for them it rates quite well.
And The Prisoner - 0.7m in primetime!
The third one, The Last Crusade aired on Christmas Day 1992 (?) on BBC1 and got something like 16m IIRC - think it aired at 3.10 that time rather than early evening.
Given that the first three premiered on Christmas Day, to massive audiences, it does seem odd that the fourth one will premiere on New Year's Day at 5.30 and will be lucky to get 6m.
Sure, films aren't what they once were and the 4th Indy movie was hardly well received, but still. The fact BBC1 is repeating (again) the first three in a prime 8pm slot on successive Wednesdays in January shows what a decently hot property the series of films still is.
I heard they were showing the fourth Indy film again, unedited, on Wednesday January 26th at 8pm. Don't know if it's true though.
OK, not brilliant then. But I guess they had little alternative.
It probably helped BBC2 out a bit.
Starting from Boxing Day onwards, the BBC's scheduling this year has been peculiar. One major query is why show a Christmas Special of Countryfile on December 19th and a normal one on Boxing Day?
Why show Rock and Chips on an obscure midweek day?
The Polar Bear film would have been better placed elsewhere as well. I would have made the changes like this:
BOXING DAY:
9.45am: Who Framed Roger Rabbit
11.20 FILM: SpyKIDS
12.40 BBC News
1.00 Nigel Slaters Christmas Suppers
1.30 FILM: The Ant Bully
2.50 FILM PREMIERE: Bee Movie (moving Over The Hedge to the 1.40pm New Year's Day slot)
4.10 Songs of Praise: Boxing Day Big Sing
4.55 Countryfile Winter Special
5.55 BBC News
6.20 FILM PREMIERE: Enchanted
8.00 EastEnders
8.30 Polar Bear: Spy in the Ice
9.30 Rock and Chips
10.30 BBC News followed by the footie shows
MONDAY 27th
As schedule until 5.40pm
5.40pm: FILM: Shrek 2
7.05 Halcyon River Diaries
8.00 EastEnders
8.30 Casualty
9.20 Upstairs Downstairs (starts tonight and ends Wednesday)
10.20 A Question of Sport
10.50 BBC News
11.10 FILM: Wild Hogs (showing the Graham Norton afterwards, why waste a key Christmas slot with a repeat of a show shown a couple of days before?)
TUESDAY Dec 28th
As schedule (one of a few days where the scheduling is right!)
WED Dec 29th
As schedule until 8pm, then:
8pm Antiques Roadshow (the episode shown Boxing Day)
9pm Upstairs Downstairs (the final episode)
Thur Dec 30th
As schedule.
New Year's Eve: As schedule.
Just swapping a few shows around and enhancing the schedules with stronger shows on a couple of days, could have led to better figures, although it's odd to think that BBC1's rather dull, lacklustre Boxing night schedule actually won the ratings from ITV!
Hit of the year
Strictly Come Dancing. The X Factor was close because of its huge ratings but Strictly had a resurgence and had its best ratings ever and its best series in quite some time. Creatively, Being Human and The Inbetweeners should be mentioned.
New hit of the year
It's a tie between Downton Abbey and Sherlock. Downton's ratings perfromance was amazing. It helped that it followed The X Factor. But its audience stayed with it and got people interested in the type of show they wouldn't expect to like. Sherlock was mesmerising. The show will be an awards magnet. It made Sherlock contemporary but kept the charcaters of Holmes and Watson traditional in how Conan Doyle envisaged them. Sherlock was hands down a much better drama but as for new hit, I can't choose between them.
Jaw-dropper of the year
A cartoon Graham Norton turning up in Doctor Who! Dramatic, cliffhanging scene and then that happens!! :eek:
Mystifying rating of the year
Countryfile! 8 million viewers! Say whaaaa' !?!
“So glad that flopped” of the year
Can't think of one as I've tended to avoid shows I don't like the look of.
"Such a shame it flopped" of the year
Survivors. The show improved in series 2 but the ratings didn't. Really loved this show and it's a shame it ended.
Flop of the year
The Prisoner, The Stephen K Amos Show and The Morgana Show. It's a three way tie.
Best Channel
BBC4 - Or The Mark Gatiss Channel. So many gems like A History Of Horror, First Men In The Moon, The Story Of Coronation Street.
Honourable mention
I don't think other channels deserve one.
Worst Channel
ITV1 - Just endless soaps strangling primetime. Don't really watch it that much.
Dishonourable mention
George Dixon and his dopey scheduling of BBC1
Tonight is pretty pathetic from three of the big five really. With it being New Year's Eve night into New Year's Day you'd think they'd stretch their programming a little longer to catch the boozers coming in from the pub. However, BBC1 went to the News at 2.05; BBC2 cut to Pages from Ceefax at 2.15 and Five went to Super Casino at 12.15. At least ITV have got a film, but that's not well known. Channel 4 are airing programming throughout the night.
Maybe I'm expecting too much - I just thought the schedules would run later considering which night it was.
Comments
There's no doubt that The Inbetweeners was a massive, massive success. No-one here would've thought a year ago that a digital programme would be averaging 3m+ in the officials every week. Glee has been a fantastic acquisition and, of course, both Skins and Misfits did very well too.
But those four programmes are only about 40 hours of the entire year. Outside of these four programmes (and maybe The Big Bang Theory), the channel has been doing pretty poorly on a regular basis: its 2010 share until November was 1.8% (inc. +1) which was E4's lowest annual share (Jan-Nov) since 2005. So the channel hasn't really grown in share over the last few years unlike its major competitors.
It's all well and good on having 2-3 "marquee programmes" which get mega-ratings for them but it's no good overall if the bread and butter of the schedule isn't performing up to standards. If you look on BARB, viewers are watching E4 for about the same no. of minutes per week these days as a couple of years ago. Even with the "big hitters" there's been barely any increase, and that's because the day to day schedule isn't particularly good. Friends is still a reasonable ratings performer for them (though not at the level it was a couple of years ago) but I wonder how are they going to replace all those hours of it with the same kind of ratings once the rights go to Comedy Central?
I think BBC3 has done a better job this year. It might not have the "mega-ratings" hits of Inbetweeners or Glee but they've made improvements in both their day to day schedules and new commissions. Russell Howard, Lip Service, Him & Her are new programmes which have come through in the last year and been hits - that's already 2 more new hits than E4 have had this year (Glee being their only one). Even though initially they weren't ratings hits a few years ago, programmes like Don't Tell The Bride and Family Guy have flourished in the last 12 months, partly due to better scheduling and more support given to them. Family Guy, in particular, has done wonders in all sorts of timeslots, even beating terrestrial competition and it repeats incredibly well. Also the stable scheduling of EastEnders repeats for all these years has paid off - even non-clash episodes nowadays can get 1m+ which wasn't the case a couple of years ago.
In addition to the above, they've had a range of documentaries in the last year which have had almost or more than 1m viewers: Eddie Izzard Marathon Man, Small Teen Big World, Underage & Pregnant, World's Strictest Parents, to name a few. Also I forgot to mention Being Human which did really well for its last series. BBC3's 2010 share has been 1.4% - a steady improvement compared to the previous year (and it's been their best ever year ratings-wise) and I'm sure I read in a press release that their 16-34 profile has rocketed in the last few years. Credit to Danny Cohen for doing so well at BBC3.
I think if there's one thing BBC3 needs is a new hit American drama series, especially after the axing of Heroes which IIRC was doing well on BBC3 particularly in the early years. But apart from that, BBC3's looking pretty solid and making good progress in the ratings (better progress IMO than E4).
Hit of the year
The Inbetweeners. Completely agree on this one. Has raised the bar very high indeed for multi-channel, often putting its parent station to shame ratings wise.
Flop of the year
The Bill at 9pm. Holy mackerel, what a disaster this was - very sad way for a long running British drama of this calibre to end.
New hit of the year
Downton Abbey. Credit to ITV for finally putting that mega X Factor lead-in to good use. Managed to outclass the BBC's Upstairs, Downstairs revival to become one of the biggest shows of 2010.
Jaw-dropper of the year
Madness in the Fast Lane. Performed extremely well with little fanfare in a late BBC slot in the middle of a quiet (World Cup excluded) summer. The BBC Three EE Aftermath show is also high up there.
Mystifying rating of the year
Countryfile. Okay so it made the leap to early primetime in 2009 but 2010 has been another great year for it, hitting new highs. No idea how it has managed to became the Sunday night powerhouse that it has. Not that it's a bad show per se, but it's just very unlike anything else that rates so highly. A rare feat for BBC One under Jay Hunt.
“So glad that flopped” of the year
The Taking of Prince Harry. C4 trying to drum up controversy to get ratings again. Yawn. Dire attempt with this weak docudrama that must go down as one of the most pointless programmes of the year.
"Such a shame that flopped" of the year
Don't Step Believing. It had all the hallmarks of a hit, and was marketed extremely well by the network, but yet again C5 failed to win viewers over with this high profile UK commission. Richard Woolfe's last hurrah.
Best Channel
Easiest one so far. Channel 5 without a doubt. Making good progress, particularly post 8pm and has the best range of programmes out of the commercial broadcasters overall. Only inadequate area is homegrown drama, incidentally where ITV1 is strongest.
Honourable mention
E4. Strong brand, good look and feel to the channel, and crucially, very good mix of programmes that resonate well with its key demographic. Often punches above its weight, particularly when it comes to homegrown drama and comedy. (could teach C5 a thing or two here) Tellingly, in a year in which one of its highest rated programmes Hollyoaks collapsed, the channel has come out relatively unscathed because it has strengthened in other areas. Next year will be testing for it though as Friends comes out of rotation.
Worst Channel
ITV2. Most of its programmes are pure crap, but somehow rate. Whilst its main rivals BBC Three and E4 have upped their game this year, ITV2 has gone backwards. Gone are the engaging & current dramas like Call Girl and Trinity, and in their place more cheap reality dross. For the generous budget that it has to work with, it isn't going very far. Very poor excuse for a sixth channel.
Dishonourable mention
More4. Whilst still infinitely more credible than ITV2, More4 is also going backwards rapidly after a strong start in the year or two following its launch in 2005. The demise of More4 News and now The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is another nail in its coffin, with True Stories and The Good Wife becoming the only two worthwhile original programmes left. The rest is just a mix of C4 repeats, film repeats and the odd exclusive buried at a ridiculous time of day. The name of the channel is becoming ironic as they take more and more away. Less4 doesn't have quite the same ring to it I suppose...
Attentional won't tape-check because its New Year's Eve, so unless we have a 5-minute breakdown, we'll only see the full slot average.
Thanks for that rzt. Not too bad considering the time. I really hope we get more in primetime and some of these repeats get shown again.
One thing, does anyone have a rating for Shooting Stars? Thanks.
Cheers - so EastEnders will probably see quite a boost in the Officials.
Shooting Stars got 1.3m beaten by Kirsty and Phil on Channel 4.
From Media Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/31/nigel-slater-toast-bbc-ratings
Not sure how that compare to previous ratings since it returned?
Isn't that quite low? I'm sure it was getting 2-3m on overnights. But a far cry from their heyday.
1900-2100 Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments
2100-2300 Fawlty Towers Re-Opened
2300-0100 Fawlty Towers Exclusive: Basil's Best Bits
2100-2300 Fawlty Towers Re-Opened: 212k (0.9%)
2300-0100 Fawlty Towers Exclusive: Basil's Best Bits: 163k (1.6%)
Hit of the year
The Inbetweeners. I wanted to be original but it's hard to disagree with this one.
Flop of the year
The Prisoner. Though no one was expecting it to hold on to all of Britain's Got Talent's audience it lost even more than expected.
New hit of the year
Downton Abbey. Again, I can't be original with this. Downton Abbey has immediately established itself as a high rating drama.
Jaw-dropper of the year
Your Country Needs You - for all the wrong reasons. I expected it to do much better than it did. Awful rating and TBH awful show from start to finish.
Mystifying rating of the year
Antiques Roadshow - while always doing ok it never set the ratings board alight yet all of a sudden it's doing brilliantly.
“So glad that flopped” of the year
Planet Jedward - enough is enough of desperate celebs flogging their wares for all it's worth.
"Such a shame that flopped" of the year
Married, Single, Other. Thank goodness Downton came along, but it'd have been nice if ITV1 had another new non-crime drama doing well this year.
Best Channel
E4 - it's had a great year while it's sister channel is fading somewhat. Great commissioning, a good mix of shows and showing no signs of fading.
Honourable mention
ITV3 - Maybe not an advertiser's wet dream but it's still performing reasonably well with it's classic programming.
Worst Channel
ITV2 - It's all been said before. Saying that, the potential is there. They just need to utilise it.
Dishonourable mention
BBC1 - More down to the scheduling than anything else, to be fair to it.
Although the caption said "Coronation Street continues in half an hour", Voiceover Man said "and Coronation Street will be back at 8.40". It returned at 8.41pm.
EastEnders was 40 minutes tonight for reasons you're probably aware of (spoiler attached)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJG8tTmRz-c
Hit of the year
The Inbetweeners - As others have said, the growth between series was astonishing.
Flop of the year
The Prisoner - 0.7m in primetime!
New hit of the year
Sherlock/Downton Abbey - Both did brilliantly for different reasons and circumstances.
Jaw-dropper of the year
The Prisoner - 0.7m in primetime!
Mystifying rating of the year
Merlin - several 7m+ audiences against X Factor
Countryfile - it got over 8m!
Im A Celeb - cant explain how it grew so much this year.
“So glad that flopped” of the year
Any follow a celeb with a camera rubbish on ITV2 - its just cheap. Lazy and downright crap programming.
"Such a shame that flopped" of the year
Reggie Perrin - a show that was a lot better than series 1 but just seemed to gentle and cosy for viewers nowadays.
Best Channel
BBC1 - it goes about its of producing lots of solid hits without having the mega hits like X Factor, BGT or Im A Celeb to occupy column inches yet has hardly lost any share of viewers year-on-year.
Honourable mention
ITV4 - increased its portfolio of sports very well this year with a mix of sports like Darts, Cricket and Tennis and probably got them on the cheap.
Also BBC3 for a lot of strong ratings and growing its share of 16-34s so well.
Worst Channel
C4 - so many flops and the measurement of a solid rating for C4 has gone from over 2m to around 1m. It will struggle with no Big Brother even more this year.
Dishonourable mention
ITV2 - for so much crap but luckily for them it rates quite well.
And The Prisoner - 0.7m in primetime!
And Happy New Year!
I heard they were showing the fourth Indy film again, unedited, on Wednesday January 26th at 8pm. Don't know if it's true though.
Starting from Boxing Day onwards, the BBC's scheduling this year has been peculiar. One major query is why show a Christmas Special of Countryfile on December 19th and a normal one on Boxing Day?
Why show Rock and Chips on an obscure midweek day?
The Polar Bear film would have been better placed elsewhere as well. I would have made the changes like this:
BOXING DAY:
9.45am: Who Framed Roger Rabbit
11.20 FILM: SpyKIDS
12.40 BBC News
1.00 Nigel Slaters Christmas Suppers
1.30 FILM: The Ant Bully
2.50 FILM PREMIERE: Bee Movie (moving Over The Hedge to the 1.40pm New Year's Day slot)
4.10 Songs of Praise: Boxing Day Big Sing
4.55 Countryfile Winter Special
5.55 BBC News
6.20 FILM PREMIERE: Enchanted
8.00 EastEnders
8.30 Polar Bear: Spy in the Ice
9.30 Rock and Chips
10.30 BBC News followed by the footie shows
MONDAY 27th
As schedule until 5.40pm
5.40pm: FILM: Shrek 2
7.05 Halcyon River Diaries
8.00 EastEnders
8.30 Casualty
9.20 Upstairs Downstairs (starts tonight and ends Wednesday)
10.20 A Question of Sport
10.50 BBC News
11.10 FILM: Wild Hogs (showing the Graham Norton afterwards, why waste a key Christmas slot with a repeat of a show shown a couple of days before?)
TUESDAY Dec 28th
As schedule (one of a few days where the scheduling is right!)
WED Dec 29th
As schedule until 8pm, then:
8pm Antiques Roadshow (the episode shown Boxing Day)
9pm Upstairs Downstairs (the final episode)
Thur Dec 30th
As schedule.
New Year's Eve: As schedule.
Just swapping a few shows around and enhancing the schedules with stronger shows on a couple of days, could have led to better figures, although it's odd to think that BBC1's rather dull, lacklustre Boxing night schedule actually won the ratings from ITV!
Hit of the year
Strictly Come Dancing. The X Factor was close because of its huge ratings but Strictly had a resurgence and had its best ratings ever and its best series in quite some time. Creatively, Being Human and The Inbetweeners should be mentioned.
New hit of the year
It's a tie between Downton Abbey and Sherlock. Downton's ratings perfromance was amazing. It helped that it followed The X Factor. But its audience stayed with it and got people interested in the type of show they wouldn't expect to like. Sherlock was mesmerising. The show will be an awards magnet. It made Sherlock contemporary but kept the charcaters of Holmes and Watson traditional in how Conan Doyle envisaged them. Sherlock was hands down a much better drama but as for new hit, I can't choose between them.
Jaw-dropper of the year
A cartoon Graham Norton turning up in Doctor Who! Dramatic, cliffhanging scene and then that happens!! :eek:
Mystifying rating of the year
Countryfile! 8 million viewers! Say whaaaa' !?!
“So glad that flopped” of the year
Can't think of one as I've tended to avoid shows I don't like the look of.
"Such a shame it flopped" of the year
Survivors. The show improved in series 2 but the ratings didn't. Really loved this show and it's a shame it ended.
Flop of the year
The Prisoner, The Stephen K Amos Show and The Morgana Show. It's a three way tie.
Best Channel
BBC4 - Or The Mark Gatiss Channel. So many gems like A History Of Horror, First Men In The Moon, The Story Of Coronation Street.
Honourable mention
I don't think other channels deserve one.
Worst Channel
ITV1 - Just endless soaps strangling primetime. Don't really watch it that much.
Dishonourable mention
George Dixon and his dopey scheduling of BBC1
Maybe I'm expecting too much - I just thought the schedules would run later considering which night it was.