Countryfile is not really PSB at all now. Its long distant relation was a farming programme that went out at 1pm on Sundays that dealt with real rural issues. That was eventually diluted into what became Countryfile in the 11am slot. The move to primetime further dilutes the core of the programme to one of nice presenters posing in nice scenery. If thats the heights that PSB aspires to, then PSB has no future.

According to the Radio Times website, X Factor results show back down to 60 minutes on Oct 25th, although that might not be the final schedule. But assuming it is, I agree with your sentiment. I think the extra 15 minutes next week is to try and take the sting out of any advantage F1 might give BBC1



Far be it for me for knock down this brilliant programme, but we don't know how many on the Sunday viewers also watched on Saturday. There has to have been some. But, hey, he should still be reaching at least 10m. If only we could encourage all of them to watch the same screening, then he'd be second in the ratings behind X Factor.


I was going to say, when I saw that ASFF had 6.5m (and before I saw CountryFile's figure) that Countryfile was starting to be a liability to BBC1's Sunday night, and that maybe they should swap it with Antiques Roadshow to see if Roadshow could give ASFF a run for its money, but actually both CF and AR are doing just fine.

Emma, though, is a disappointment. It should really be above 4m. And some viewers have complaint about the quality of the adaptation. The Radio Times had an article last week about whether period adaptations have had their day. I think the problem is that the likes of Emma have been adapted so many times before. the BBc are trying to look for something different in period drama, and that's a sensible decision.

LOL - just had to quote that! Of course the group number was dire - on anything other than the Lloyd Webber shows, they usually are. Think they'd be better later in the show, not kicking them off. Overall though the one hour show flowed better than I expected.


Rural life has changed too though, and for many people living in the country it's rural pursuits, not farming forecasts, they're interested in.

I'm surprised ITV haven't revived The Xtra Factor: Xcess All Areas for ITV1 - it would do perfectly in a weekday primetime slot.

Exactly. I actually slightly preferred the Sunday show to the Saturday one. X Factor is working great spread over Sat/Sun, the viewing figures are fantastic.

I wonder how long Countryfile can keep hold of the 7pm slot, though. There are 30 episodes in the new series of Antiques Roadshow, which means it will keep going until the spring, and Lark Rise to Candleford is back with a new series at Christmas, and I can't see either of those two shows being pushed into the 9pm slot in January.

Countryfile to 6pm in January? Or perhaps even back to 11am until the 2010 F1 season begins?

I think Emma is a touch lightweight, it hasnt struck the chord that Cranford or Larkrise has, or indeed, Tess last year.
However more of an audience would have been guided to it had AR/ SCD been in tandem like last year.

The 2010 F1 season is provisionally set to start on March 14th. I don't see what the hassle would be in giving Countryfile a two month break to be honest...

Just for anyone wondering BTW, and for us to keep in mind when the weekend's overnights come in, here is how the Brazillian Grand Prix has performed in the last several years (overnight ratings only) :

1996 - 5.7m - BBC2
1997 - 6.8m
1998 - 6.1m
1999 - 7.5m
2000 - 7.4m
2001 - 6.2m (32%)
2002 - 5.9m (??%)
2003 - 7.2m (??%) - 17:20 to 20:10
--- Brazilian round moves to end of season October date
2004 - 4.1m (20%) - 17:20 to 19:50
2005 - 4.3m (??%) - 17:20 to 19:50
2006 - 4.9m (24%) - 17:00 to 20:00
2007 - 7.3m (41%) - 16:00 to 19:00
2008 - 8.8m (42%) - 16:00 to 19:15 *highest in F1 history

Thats a good question. I would have said CF would be a good bet at 6.00-I thought that is where it would go when it was first mooted. AR might work at 9.00 though. I dont imagine there are many youngsters into it.

ohhh, i dont remember that? was it like an 'it takes two' type show?? I remember ITV had a daily Dancing on Ice show a few years ago... and now they dont have any form of extended DOI!!

I suppose it depends on how many editions they've commissioned per year.

Whatever happens, I can't see much room for comedy on Sunday nights again next year. Probably just the six episodes of Last of the Summer Wine, or five, if one gets shown this Christmas.

It's because ITV2 have been cutting back on spin-offs. That's why they significantly cut back on The Xtra Factor as well - there used to be two extra shows during the week including the live Friday night show but they were dropped after Series 3.

Deserved ratings for XF, fantastic launch weekend.

Quite nice to see it showing SCD a clean set of heels which is lookng like a bit of a dry arse show at the moment.

That's a new one on me!

Surely they don't use phrases like that in Henley!

I can't be right all the time Brekkie. FYI my prediction on the DSRPG was 12.9m, so not far out. I was just venting my frustration at a very poor results show, regardless of what the numbers say today.

Thanks for this. Should come in handy later

I've been looking back at what BBC1 had in the Sunday 9pm slot at the start of the year. It was bits and pieces rather than a consistent series.

The natural history 2-parter Swarm: Nature's Incredible Invasion started us off. Then came the 2-part drama Hunter (a spin-off from 5 days) shown across Sunday and Monday. Next came A Short Stay In Switzerland starring Julie Walters. Sir David Attenborough's documentary Charles Darwin And The Tree Of Life was on February 1st, then the BAFTA Film Awards and then Jeremy Paxman's 4-part art documentary THe Victorians took the slot.

I remember now. We were all griping about being short-changed by BBC1 with regard to 9pm drama across the week. A bit like now! BBC1, get Spooks back on air immmediately. (I don't watch it, but that's my lose. I just like when BBC1 puts on new drama that gets good reviews and good ratings.)

Incidentally, the highest rated of those Sunday programmes above was the Charles Darwin documentary with 6m in the overnights. It provided further proof of the draw of Sir David Attenborough.
I point this out because I've noticed in the DS Ratings Predictions Game, some very low predictions for tonight's new natural history series Life. Some people seem to be unaware of how well BBC1's last natural history epic, Planet Earth, performed. Back in 2006 it played on Sunday nights in two 5-part runs. The first run in early spring never dropped below 8m in the overnights. The second run in the Autumn didnt fare quite so well, but it was facing very strong ITV opposition - A Touch Of Frost, Midsomer Murders and I'm A Celebrity - and still had at least 6m, rising to 7m by the end.

I'm off to post my prediction for tonight.

I'm surprised they havn't found somewhere for it.

It was axed when ITV2 decided to cut down on reality spin-offs.

Personally I thought it was one of the best bits from the third series - it was a bit like Katie and Peter, but better.

Anyone have access to any ratings databases?

I'm quite interested to know if late night TV week beginning 14th September was more/same/less watched than week beginning 21st September.

Just any late night ratings comparisons - 11pm - 2am ish.

Anyone know?

Xcess All Areas was basically a narrated reality show following the contestants in the house and in rehersals. Also over the first three years they had The Xtra Factor on Friday nights, which was live and featured some live sound checks as it previews the Saturday show.


As for Dancing on Ice going Saturday/Sunday. Unless they use the Strictly arrangement of recording the results show on the Saturday, I'm not sure it will happen due to Phillip and Holly's commitment to This Morning. I doubt Holly will want to continue a six day week in the winter too.

I'm sure they'd record the results. The only thing stopping them from recording The X Factor was Simon Cowell last year. There are no such barriers with DOI - I don't believe the 'Schofe' holds as much clout at ITV towers.

Plus I'm sure they could easilly let Eamonn and Ruth host This Morning two days a week during the DOI period

They also rehearse the previous day remember. (When it was on Saturdays This Morning sometimes used to speak to him from the set on the Friday)

And isn't there going to be a Friday night show too this year?

Holly could easily end up working 7 days a week.

If they were going to do a saturday night DOI, then why would they have commissioned Pop Star To Opera Star?

You really don't need any of the words before 'why'.

That's the question everyone has been asking since it was commissioned.