The All Star Impressions Show shouldn't have even been in primetime.

If you haven't done so already: http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=114224

I think Harry Hill is still doing well for ITV but they need to be careful that the show doesn't suffer from overkill. I agree with what you say though - what I find funny about Harry Hill are his witty observations from the small TV clips that are shown. I don't find the studio slapstick or the 'fiiight' bit very funny at all and if the show becomes too dominated by that, I can see myself switching off and I wonder if other viewers would feel the same way?

It was a pretty normal night in ratings terms. Was expecting EastEnders to be higher though. I know it was Saturday and it was on at 7pm, but it's the day after Christmas so most viewers won't be thinking in terms of days and it's not like the schedules are normal or ordinary. It's the festive time of year, so everything is mished mashed all over the place and viewers shouldn't expect to have their normal viewing routine. That's why I thought more viewers would have tuned into EE, especially as it was the night after it got the big 10.8m figure and it was the aftermath of Archie's murder. I was expecting a bit of a drop off, but only to 9.5-10m, not to 8m.

Pirates of the Caribbean did really well. Ant and Dec delivered for ITV, which was expected.

BTW has Harry Hill committed to a new season on ITV yet or is he still being pursued by Sky One?

He's committed to a new season.

Does anyone think ITV next Christmas should have a go at putting a special X Factor or BGT on against DW or EE or something and see what happens?

If they came up with a good format and promoted it well, I bet it could finally be something that ITV could beat BBC ratings wise for an hour.

I don't know how people feel about specials though, so it could do really well getting over 10 million, or it could do terrible.
What do people think?

Two words - World Idol.

ITV-Cowell's big idea to finally win the Christmas ratings battle.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Idol

EDIT: It got 4.5m on Christmas Day against 15.2m for EastEnders and 16.5m for Only Fools and Horses (though arguably, it did dent both those BBC1 shows)

One deciding factor maybe to see how well the new Doctor is received next year. If he doesn't catch the public's imagination and Strictly doesn't improve, there would suddenly be 2 hours up for grabs.

So why are you trying to force us to watch it?

Sometimes the Great British Public know intuiatively that a programme will be pants and they give it a very wide berth. (See also episode 1 of Big Top.)

OFAH's ratings were dented because so many people found the two previous Christmas Day specials disappointing.


That's just your opinion (which, of course, you're entitled to), but I thought last night's show was as brilliant as ever.

Disappointing figures, though. On the other hand, great figures for Total Wipeout, which I also loved

There could be all sorts of reasons why numbers were low this year.

Perhaps many people are drifting away from "couch potato" towards "pick 'n mix", in other words just deciding to watch a few programmes that are on at specific times and switching the TV off in between.

In the past most people would leave the TV on and just watch whatever flowed their way, thus guaranteed big ratings even for dross.


Maybe the line-up was just not very inspiring either, that would tend to make it an easier decision to just watch a selection of the better shows.


Also don't forget that an increasingly large section of society have seen these 2 or 3yr old films several times already , so they don't seem very much of a rock to base an evenings viewing around.

I don't think it's a bad rating for EastEnders and i know of people that didn't know it was on last night and i bet any money come monday people will be like 'Have I missed an Episode?'
They didn't mention it at the end of Friday's episode and showed no trailers so the only people that would have known it was on would be Tv guide readers,People watching BBC1 or people off the net that might have heard that it was on.
7pm Is a very unusal time for EastEnders as it is but Friday we have a 610pm and 7:55pm start

Fairly predictable night for both of the big two last night. EastEnders did pretty well to hold on to 8m despite the unusual night and Pirates performed about in line with expectations at a solid 6m.

Ant and Dec were strong for ITV but it didn't take a genius to spot that the All Star Impressions Show was going to tank. Thank god it did, as well. The only surprise is the weak rating for Harry Hill which the viewers seem to have lost. I do actually share the feelings of a couple of posters regarding needing to be careful of overkill. I couldn't miss an episode back in September, but now its becoming a rareity that I catch one. He'd be better off with a single 12,13 episode run one side of Christmas than stretching out either side, padded by those 'best of' shows.

Back to the Christmas Day conversation, and I think those expecting a revolution in the BBC's offerings next year will probably be dissappointed. There's not a lot broke with what they're doing - people expected more from Who and SCD, but at the moment I think thats overshadowing stunning performances from The Gruffalo, The Royles and G&S.

Doctor Who is a pretty permanent fixture alongside EE, and unless the relaunch really collapses next year, I'm sure it'll be offered a Christmas Day berth. I do hope they look into alternatives to Christmas Day Strictly, which has always felt a bit haphazard so close to the series finishing - and I also hope that they don't turn to the Royle's for a third time running. Perhaps a drama might offer variety in the post-watershed slots?

If it's not broke,Why try to fix it?
Dr who and EastEnders will allways been on BBC1 xmas day the same as ITV with Emmerdale and Corrie
I think the only shows ITV can show to compete against BBC would be Xf and BGT(But will they be as big this time around?)Corrie and maybe DOI which as lost out to Enders before on xmas day.

I think the BBC could add a little more comedy in the first half though

5pm Classic Comedy(Only fools,One foot ect)
530 My Family
630 EastEnders
7pm SCD
8pm Dr who
9pm Comedy/quiz show
930pm EastEnders
10pm Comedy/film to end the night

Plus Strictly, plus Royle Family (or some other comedy)


More comedy? How much comedy does one want?

Loads lol
I don't mean Unfunny comedy like we've had this year
i think a big comeback comedy Birds or a feather,One foot in the grave(The final ep was a dream) something that will get people talking

My family is like a family comedy so i think it we will be good around 530.

Lets face it the Royle family and V.wood was crap this year
so unfunny.

I don't think the royle family will be back next year and SCD won't be on Xmas day the BBC is going to want a show that can beat what ever ITV puts against it

Maybe The BBC could put TOTP insted of SCD and have TOTP the best of the year which i think will do well

or something like a panto or entertainment show

i don't think the BBC will have the same line up next year
and i think ITV might have alittle move around too

Its interesting that people keep mentioning XF/BGT for Christmas Day but I cant ever see that working save for actually having a final on that day (which would not be workable for several reasons).
The interest in both shows and virtually all the contestants dies after the winner is announced. The winner then goes on to make alot of money but is forgotten by 95% of the audience, and half adored half despised by the rest. Putting past contestants together would result in a variety show and a TOTP style rating.

I just dont think TOTP is strong enough these days to warrant the SCD slot. I used to watch it religously in the seventies and eighties but nothing would make me tune into it today. Part of this is my age but I also think the lack of regular primetime chart show has made the majority of singles chart music the domain of those who seek it out-ie those under 25.

SCD is the perfect opposition for Coronation Street and I cant see that changing.

As for the sameyness, I agree it is becoming a bit repetitive, but it always was to a degree with whatever was in vogue at the time. Whether it be Morecambe and Wise, Mike Yarwood, OFAH, Bread, Russ Abbott, One Foot, Eastenders, Dr Who with a big film tossed in.They have all had runs which looked repetitive until time played a hand.I dont think you can use Christmas Day to experiment.

I wonder if ITV will drop Emmerdale from Xmas Day next year, as it's a Saturday. Remember, ITV had no extra soap this week; they simply re-arranged what they normally have.

The logical comedy for BBC1 to screen on Christmas Day next year is Outnumbered. If they'd given it a better slot this year, they could have started to push its ratings up to the level it deserves and a level that would justify a Christmas day slot. Maybe, though, its ratings will increase with series 3 early next year. IIRC both Only Fools... and One Foot In The Grave saw ratings climb significantly with their third series.

On the other hand, G&S's Xmas Day slot boosted their overnight ratings by over 3m compared with the previous episode.

I reckon The Royle Family will be back next year, I believe they commissioned two specials around the same time for 2009 and 2010 but whether it gets Christmas Day 9 or 9.30pm slot depends on what plans emerge throughout the year.

Not sure what other comedies could be brought back for Christmas.

There is always the possibility of Vicar Of Dibley again, Birds of a Feather, Men Behaving Badly even. After To the Manor Born I would imagine anything is possible. I think Gavin and Stacey will re-surface almost certainly as a Christmas Special. Very long shots OFAH and One Foot and even Keeping Up Appearances.

Hi de Hi anyone?

George, any update on the "7-11" race?

K
edit: Assuming the peak shares quoted throughout this thread are for 7-11 (BBC1 - ITV1):

22/12: +7.6
23/12: +3.4
24/12: +9.5
25/12: +19.3
26/12: +5.7

So, I reckon that makes the current status that ITV1 are still in the lead by 1.3%.

K

Vicar of Dibley won't be back as Richard Curtis decided to end it with the last special. Gavin and Stacey will definetly be back at Christmas.

Oh lol, on the ITV Player The All Star Impressions Show is the third most watched programme!

Only Corry and TV Burp are ahead of it

There were people here predicting EastEnders would be getting 5 million last night so 8.1m should be a pleasant surprise for some. Although it did as well as I expected.