Wow, are you from around Ipswich too? Which part of deepest Suffolk do you live in? (Yes, I think I'm as impressed as you are lol )

Maybe it's localised snowing around Ipswich - just to prevent Roy Keane from walking his dogs?

I wonder whether The Bill will get over 4m tonight. Gavin and Stacey could tip the 6m mark.

See i dissagree, i saw the first episode and thought it was TERRIBLE but quite liked last nights.

I quite liked the first two!

I'm from Stowmarket, so Ipswich is our nearest proper town, yourself?

If The Bill fails to get 4m tonight then i can't see it ever improving, so one final chance in another part of the schedule, or it has to go i should imagine, back to 8 seems to be the obvious move, maybe on a tuesday? Give a bit of stability to an otherwise under-performing night.

I liked the first episode and last night, but hated last week's - too cringeworthy for words.


Ipswich itself. North West of the town, near Asda.


I agree - even if it does hit above 4m it's still not in a healthy situation, considering what ITV1 were originally aiming for. I'd stil argue that there should be one final soap revamp, putting Emmerdale and Coronation Street on during the 8pm hour and then The Bill at 9. That'd do better than the current Tuesday programmes.

Ah Well i think my taste in comedy and views on them are considered void, as i LOVED After You've Gone, and really enjoyed both Mumbai Calling and Life Of Riley

Well, I guess the BSI have struck again... saying that:


An overload of drama! Is it a case of holding some back from this year, or bringing some stuff forward that would have originally aired on March/April and finished in June without a World Cup?

The only trouble i see with all the BBC dramas (And i'm in no way complaining here as it looks a fantastic line-up!) But there isn't any comedy in there at all! I know QI is at 8:3o on fridays, but there is normally some comedy shows running on BBC1 (At the moment alone we have Gavin and Stacey, Qi, Have I Got News For You, Live At The Apollo and Big Top, yet there isnt any to come. I hope Outnumbered actually gets a decent slot this year!) Have we any idea what is taking the Monday 22:35 slot on BBC 1 yet?

This happens every year. They start the series in decent slots and then the final episodes end up playing out at the weirdest of times over Christmas.

Monday 4th and Monday 11th both have films in the 10.35pm slot (Face/Off and The Hours)

Tuesday has health documentaries.

Wednesday has films.

Thursdy 7th has Comic Relief: The Net Result, with Question Time starting back on the 14th.

Friday 8th has a film, with Friday Night with Jonathan Ross returning on the 15th.

(taken from uk-tv-guide.com)

Ah, i know where ya mean! Just where the park and ride is!

Thanks for the 10:35 slots, it's a shame they aren't continuing the 10:35 slot on monday with comedy, they've had strong shows with Omid Djalili, Would I Lie To You and Graham Norton all doing well there, and i hope it's made into a permenant comedy slot (I imagine Not Going Out will be slotted there at some point as well)

A couple miles closer to town than the Park and Ride, but yeah that area.


Maybe they're just holding back a new comedy series, and are using the films as fillers. We can but hope!

Er, from The Guardian piece:

"ITV1 had six out of the top 10 programmes on any channel this year, according to figures provided by the broadcaster up to 29 November."


Shows how far ITV has fallen in its "battle" with BBC1 that it has to cling to is a small win in "primetime" only.

And it's astonishing really that with Tits Out getting 8-9m every night and the climax of TXF getting 12-15m that BBC1 can be so close even in "primetime" only share.



It has had to compete with Corrie when BBC1 has shown it.

That has dented BBC1's figures. Also, ITV tends to compete strongly with it, BBC1 just relies on its usual Wednesday fare.

Unlucky BBC don't have such ratings pullers to stop Royal Variety Performance doing well for ITV, eh

Shot yourself in the foot there.

I think he was referring tot he fact the BBC just use the same schedule as it would any other night yet ITV deliberatley makes a big effort to dent it.

The Guardian didn't have to publish that story - plus they seem accurate. Because of the BBC1 Christmas Day scheduling I can't see any show beating Britain's Got Talent. Then again, I thought that last year...


As others have said, ITV have lost concern for daytime hours and middling programme now. They make little profit out of daytime/middling programme so why waste money making it - especially when they can ill afford to?


I'm surprised BBC1 hasn't tried to strengthen Wednesday up with EastEnders. Tuesday night already has Holby City has a lynchpin for the schedule, and with ITV's weakness on Tuesday night the 7.30pm could be used to try out new half hour shows, rather than 7.30pm Wednesday when people aren't accustomed to watching EastEnders.

Of course EastEnders would be hit momentarily by the switch (and I'm sure ITV will try hour long Emmerdale's to force it away from the slot ) but if the channel controller held her nerve I think it would be a good move.


But then Wednesday has never been a strong night for BBC1. If ITV aired The Royal Variety on a Tuesday I'd guess the figures may have dipped a bit.

The reasons why ITV dont make much effort in daytime are totally understandable. However I feel its unfair then for people to compare BBC and ITV purely with peaktime shares.

Hmm, I don't think ITV 'deliberately' move to dent it (though previous schedules may prove otherwise!) But Sunday and Wednesday night in the past have been traditionally strong for the channel:

Sunday
7.00 Emmerdale
7.30 Coronation Street
8.00 Heartbeat
9.00 Midsomer Murders

Wednesday
7.00 Emmerdale
7.30 Coronation Street
8.00 The Bill
9.00 Blue Murder

The reasons why ITV dont make much effort in daytime are totally understandable. However I feel its unfair then for people to compare BBC and ITV purely with peaktime shares considering how much the BBC invest in daytime.

How much does it cost to invest in ten different variations of the same "I have rubbish in my attic that I want to sell" format?

Yes sorry a badly worded reply. As you say Wednesday and Sunday have always been good for ITV so RVP on BBC has always had tougher competiton.

How much does Formula 1, Wimbledon and Doctors cost?

F1 and Wimbledon are not core elements of the daytime schedule.

Well I would say Wimbledon was definately with the amount of hours it covers every day for 2 weeks. Also Formula One is 17 races and qualifyings with each broadcast around 3 hours in length. These deals must cost a lot and have been used on programming for daytime which has probably reduced spending on peaktime.

I think shares only tell part of the story - BBC1 and ITV1 have different objectives which means they act differently and braodcast similar shows at different times, and place their efforts into achieving different aims. So while shares are interesting, I don't think too much can be read into them nowadays. Back in the days of 3, 4 even 5 channels they were more informative IMO than they are now.

BTW, for comparison I've found ITV's alternative to the Royal Variety Performance last year - Wednesday 17th December 2008 (overnights in brackets):

7.00 Emmerdale (n/a)
7.30 Coronation Street (8.5m)
8.00 The Bill (4.9m)
9.00 Police Camera Action: Drink Driving Special (3.7m)

BBC1's schedule in 2007 - Sunday 9th December 2007 (overnights in brackets):

6.00 Strictly Come Dancing: The Results (9m)
7.00 Sports Personality of the Year (6.8m)
9.15 Cranford (6.6m)

EDIT: Which is not needed so I've seen your reply. BTW do you all remember such ITV gems of yesteryear such as Sold, Fat Teens and How to Get More Sex?