That's the reason it works on Idol, because you always get at least one massive argument. X Factor rattled through the bit in the hotel in about 30 seconds so there was no scope for that. They should have started bootcamp last Sunday instead and devoted more time to the group round and then it could have worked.


So it ended at 21:13, a whole 8 minutes late! That is appauling, although I'm sure with next week's telethon they'll have enough time for everything.

I'd imagine that X Factor will beat last year's rating, but will be down on last week (bootcamp always goes down). I'm predicting:

Merlin: 4.7m
SCD: 7.9m

The Cube: 4.5m
X Factor: 8.4m
Piers: 3.9m

As for Piers Morgan's show, Cliff Richard isn't a big enough draw to get a big audience. I hope that they get the guests right on Life Stories, as it could do really well if they do. I'll be surprised if Simon Cowell doesn't do one, but the only people I've heard are doing it are Cilla Black and Geri Halliwell, who will both draw in a decent crowd.

Actually the schedule changed. It was due to finish at 21.10.

I'm not seeing much evidence for that. Lots of people not liking the programme but they still watched it, so that would mean only the Audience Appreciation Index dropping, which won't bother ITV too much.

Unless anyone wants to own up to switching off halfway through through boredom.


If your figures were to prove to be correct then the BBC would be well pleased - cutting X Factor's lead by 1m. Although they might be a little disappointment with the Merlin figure.

I wonder if Jonathan Ross' interview with Barbara Streisand will get more viewers than Piers Meets Cliff. I do hope so.

Everything was down last night, as maybe people enjoyed a nice Friday night out which could be the last until the spring. Derren Brown dived badly - maybe people are fed up with him not telling. Rebus was low but an ok share.

As for The X Factor - how did so much tripe get through the audition stage???

Actually I thought for the first time it seemed appropriate to have them tonight, and much preferred the live piano to the backing tracks.


I think it could be time to go back to that though, as I do think different categories - the groups especially - need a boot camp more tailored to them.


Although again I preferred it when they went to their UK houses, rather than a hired house abroad (or in Dublin!). As you say though, it is the first time you see them in full. Still annoys me Sharon put Tabby through in Series 1 over that other guy (Andy I think). IIRC he looked after his ill dad or something - that would see him sailing through to the live shows nowadays.


And god, the sob story returned with a vengeance tonight. Loved the beginning though absolutely taking the piss out of Simon when they showed those two awful groups performing.

The X-factor is very badly edited, you have weeks of mediocre performances and the joke ones and 2 or 3 reasonable acts per show.

Then Boot camp and you think wow did these really get through..........."ooh the decisions are so hard" cue tears & tantrums

roll on the live shows

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a1792...how-stunt.html

From a purely ratings point of view it'll be interesting to see if his show is boosted by people wanting to see his accident, a la Richard Hammond in Top Gear. I'm glad he's ok.

X-Factor winsthe battle for the second week on the trot.

X-Factor peaked at 9.6m (15 min averages)
SCD peaked at 8.5m
Piers peaked at 4.8m

Thanks dubsj. So Boot Camp a lot higher than last year then....

dubsj, how did the F1 Quali get on - 1400 to 1620 - BBC1 (predictable request I know!)

Thanks dubsj.

Last week's peaks were 8.1m and 10m so it looks like SCD is slightly up and X Factor is slightly down (it always is at bootcamp). Do you have the averages or the 15 minute numbrs? Thanks.

Piers seems to have done OK too, and will have averaged over 4m, which isn't too bad.

Both channels should be pretty happy with those. SCD closed the gap and increased its audience, XF kept good figures.

I'm more concerned about Merlin. Hope that's held its audience at least.

I think Merlin did much better after SCD. I think it's too early and I don't think people have quite found it yet in this slot, if you know what I mean. I really hope it doesn't have less than Hole in the Wall but I wouldn't be surprised. This isn't a good year for this kind of drama.

It's share is better when shown earlier but with fewer people watching at that time its overall rating will be lower.

I hope that Hole In The Wall is a better lead in than the silly animal program they had the week before. Merlin's ratings increased to near 6m by the end of the 45mins last week but it needs viewers there from the start of the show.

I'd consider it rather tragic if we lost Robin Hood, Primeval and Merlin in one year!

Averages
Strictly Come Dancing - 7.9m
The X Factor - 8.9m

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8276934.stm

Last year's ratings for the equivalent shows: SCD - 8.6m (sat) or 8.1m (sun), TXF - 8.2m

Very good to see X Factor hold most of last week's audience despite it being bootcamp, traditionally the lowest week of the series. Here are last year's equivalent ratings:

The X Factor: 8.18m (36.0%) (19:45-21:15)
Strictly Come Dancing: 8.70m (41.3%) (18:45-20:05)

Interesting that despite the clash, The X Factor is almost 1m up year on year. The clash seems to be damaging Strictly, though, as it's almost 1m down on last year, when it took an earlier slot. Also, here's X Factor's equivalent rating from two years ago (SCD hadn't started):

6.76m (36.1%) (18:05-19:15)

Puts the growth into perspective, really.

Interesting. Bootcamp actually did better than I expected. It wasnt a great show though but it always seems quite rushed. It will be interesting to see how SCD does next week with an even longer running time.

I wouldn't be surprised if Merlin was below 5m, as it was a nice evening where I am, and it was only just above it last week. A shame really, as it was great last night.

Saturday 26th September Overnights
BBC One
14:00- F1 Qualifying: 2.19m (25.4%)
18:10- Hole In The Wall: 3.60m (22.6%)
18:40- Merlin: 5.07m (27.2%)
19:25- Strictly Come Dancing: 7.91m (33.2%)
21:05- The National Lottery Draws: 6.19m (27.5%)
21:15- Casualty: 5.26m (24.2%)
22:05- BBC News: 5.06m (27.1%)
22:25- Match Of The Day: 4.21m (31.6%)

ITV1
19:00- The Cube: 4.62m (22.4%)
20:00- The X Factor: 8.89m (36.1%)
21:15- When Piers Met Sir Cliff: 4.64m (21.3%)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Solid night for both channels again, with what looks like 20%+ primetime shares.

At least Strictly didn't go down any further, and I think its ratings will rise once we're well into the live shows. Merlin retained its audience from last week which is good. Match of the Day's ratings are impressive for that time slot!

Thanks to MattJ for the ratings

ITV's public slanging match with the BBC is obviously working then. It's all about the publicity!

Really pleased Merlin retained its audience.

So glad Merlin held on to all of it's audience from last week, and as the weather gets worse, and the nights draw in, the audience should increase The Cube has held up well, with less of a lead in and early slot, so will more than likely be recommisioned. Hole In The Wall's rating is a little on the low side, but i can't image it being too expensive to make, and its still about 1m higher than last years debut, and should rise when Tv Burp comes back due to some coverage on there.

It looks like The Cube will be coming back for a second series. They're looking for contestants for the new series: http://www.itv.com/beontv/thecube/default.html

There's no doubt that SCD has lost out in the last year on almost every level. Decision making and crucially in the press, I think the BBC have shown a naievity with the show.

The eye catching result on Saturday for me was Match of The Day. Good day in the Premiership, but thats a good rating over 70 mins in such a late slot.

Pleased to see Merlin retain it's audience from last week. I think next week could see a small drop as it's starting almost half an hour earlier than yesterday.

Good numbers once again for X-Factor considering it was BC which doesn't usually rate particularly well and SCD added a couple of hundred thousand on last weeks figures which is pleasing.

Ooh, that's good news then! I'm pleased to see a good selction of shows on saturday nights now, plenty of choice!