Thanks mystical 123, i hadn't noticed the link above, but i have gone back and read it now...

I hated Sunday results and then they tried to convince us it was live by changing all their clothes and stuff even though it clearly wasn't.

They should just have their schedule something like

6:45-8:00 Strictly
8:00-8:50 Lottery and game
8:50-9:30 Strictly Results
9:30-10:20 Casualty

I agree, when they did the results show on a Sunday, I hated it because it wasn't live so that was an element of excitement missing. I would only agree with a return to Sunday results if it was live.

I like you're schedule, but I'd swap round Casualty and the results show

17:45 Merlin
18:30 Strictly
20:00 National Lottery
20:50 Casualty
21:40 Strictly results

If the shows were split between Saturday and Sunday, I would do it like this;

Saturday
18:15 Merlin
19:00 Strictly
20:30 National Lottery
21:20 Casualty

Sunday
19:00 Countryfile
20:00 Strictly results
21:00 [Drama]

With the SCD Results programme going up against the X Factor results programme.

Which won't do Strictly much good, and will lead to more accusations of the BBC pitching into a ratings battle ...... and more negative headlines when they are shown to be losing that battle.

So? TV is supposed to be competitive, and in anycase, Strictly and XF have different audience so it wouldn't matter that much.

The media only attack the BBC when they clash or partly clash strictly with XF because they know it will stop XF getting the astronomical ratings they got in 2009. There is a media bias towards XF anyway so some more bad headlines won't make a difference.

The BBC should be able to put SCD wherever they want in the schedule and not let it be dictated by a rival talent show.

Except that the BBC is NOT supposed to be chasing ratings


Perhaps, perhaps not. Some on these forums seem to wtch both for starters (although I accept that is not representative of the viewing public as a whole).


Whilst I do agree with you, the fact is that SCD Results would lose viewers to X Factor Results. The headline ratings will be seen to be suffering, the press will jump upon this as another way to beat the BBC and the producers, and some will also blame the BBC for running with a ratings war having previously lost a similar one a few years ago. Louis Walsh would probably get a few quotes in, quotes that will be eagerly picked up by certain sections of the press. The programme will suffer from more bad publicity (albeit publicity generated by the press and others with an anti-BBC agenda).

That's very true, which is a shame but why should XF have a God given right to the heart of primetime (2 hours on Saturday AND 1 or 2 hours on Sunday ) with SCD having to be pushed back earlier in the evening. It is the BBC's flagship entertainment show afterall and should be the centre piece of the schedules.

It's the mindset that somehow XF is superior and deserves to dominate weekend primetime during the Autumn is what get's to me.

Why don't they put Strictly on a sunday evening when it's not up against anything else worth mentioning. I'll grow a colostomy bag if I have to watch the Summer Wine and Antiques Roadshow one more time.

I don't think that people in the BBC think that the XF is superior (however some XF fans will, and some papers who are not natural fans of the BBC will). Yes, teh BBC should be totally free to schedule its flagship programmes when it wants to, and at time that it feels is best. Sadly there are far too many in the press, in commercial programme production, on forums and even in Parliament who have (and voice) other views rather too loudly and forcefully. That mindset that permeates the public consciousness.

I've often wondered about this and you sound so certain, so I wondered if you could point me in the direction of where it says this is the case?

This is why i don't mind the Sunday results show as it gives me something i enjoy to watch on a really bad tv day.

The BBC are contractually obliged to show Match of the day on or before 10.30pm with some exceptions for big events like last night of the prom and Remeberance saturday, The news takes another 20mins beforehand and also the BBC aren't going to schedule their results show in the middle of the X factor performance show. Millions are going to pick a performance over the filler in the SCD results show sadly.



I agree even last year by half way through the series they were backing out of direct clashes as much as they could. There clashes were reduced to 20 minutes at one point.

I doubt we'll see any major clashes this year. At most 10-15 mins like pre 2009 series.


Because the BBC have lots of things to show on Sundays and very little to show on Saturdays.

Well the original reason for moving the results show to Sundays was because Children and families were complaining that the results show often didn't finish till well after 10 pm. So I doubt they will return.

I think the results show maybe live at 7.15 on Sundays, If the results show was going to be prerecorded on a Saturday or if it was going to be one giant show then there would be no reason for Brucie not to be able to present it. As its only another 40 minutes work on his part.

As has already been said several times, it is IMPOSSIBLE for there to be a live Sunday results show!!!

1) Len and Bruno have to fly to LA as DWTS is live on Mondays
2) The pros need Sunday to do their choreography
3) The BBC cannot ask people to work 7 days a week, full on, for what could be for some of them 3 months straight.

And the results show clearly takes longer than 40 minutes to record as well - multiple takes, for example. It's perfectly possible for the results to be recorded on a Saturday without Bruce, as some people will think the show is live, it's only the fans who know better.

No it isn't impossible.

Ever heard of the X factor or Dancing with the stars, they work 7 days a week and with the Dance Troupe the competetive dancers will have a lighter workload.

Len and Bruno can easily be in LA in time. you do realise that when Strictly finishes on Sunday its still 1p.m in LA, 29 hours before showtime!



The results part of the show only took 45 minutes last year and there isn't any multiple takes. Only the guest artists perform twice once for soundcheck and then the actual recorded performance.

Even if it lasted an hour, Bruce would be able to do it. He said in the past that he has loads of energy on Saturdays but pays for it by having to spend the whole day in bed on Sundays.

Which is exactly why he doesn't want to do it anymore! And several of the pro dances were pre-recorded last year actually, with the opportunity for multiple takes, including the Blackpool VW.

I don't see any of the dancers agreeing to it either, perhaps it is possible for them to work 7-day weeks, but they'll hardly do it willingly! And if the contestants aren't willing to sign contracts if it includes a live Sunday show, then there's a clear problem - I'm sure if it was a choice between a live Sunday results show and getting the contestants they want by ensuring they have a free (for the early weeks at least) Sunday, then I'm sure the latter would win out. Sunday is a rehearsal day also when the competition reaches the latter stages, do you want to quality of dance to fall due to the loss of potentially 8-10 hours rehearsal time? A lighter workload has nothing to do with it, the point is they will all want a day off, and there's no reason why they shouldn't have one, and why the results can't be recorded - it's a much better use of resources to do it all at once too! (Maybe we could commend the BBC for once in that case - not actually doing something needlessly!)

And you didn't answer my point about choreography either, when else are the pros supposed to find time to come up with their routines - the middle of Sunday night/Monday morning?!

And a couple of pages back the flight issue was discussed and it was noted that due to most transatlantic flights leaving in the morning, they would either not get there on time or have to go straight to the studio, neither of which I am sure they'd want to do.

Well, certainty is in this case a subjective thing, but that' seems to be the general feeling on threads in the Broadcasting (and sometimes the Television) forum, and some posts on this forum as well as sections of the press and sections of Parliament seem to support that idea as well (not to mention parts of the DCMS under the current administration). The BBC Trust also rapped the BBC for chasing ratings on SCD by putting it up against XF.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...long-show.html

Back in 2006, a Government White Paper on the BBC's future role (as part of its Charter Renewal) stated:


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4806728.stm



Indeed, there is no reason TO "chase ratings", as the BBC does not need to sell advertising slots, it just has to make programming that fits its remit to "inform, educate and entertain". That's not to say that the BBC should not make programming that is popular though (yes, it looks equivalent to chasing ratings perhaps, but it is different)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/purpose/

Also allow time for makeup, last-minute gallery directions, camera run-throughs etc which would have previously taken place prior to the live Saturday show.

I also wonder whether the studio could be booked for the Sunday as well, as it would no doubt impact other productions, and would add significantly to costs (studio time, camera/sound teams who are probably paid a day rate for the Saturday show as opposed to an hourly rate, makeup & costume etc).

They should move the entire thing to Sundays running the main show 6-8pm and results 9-9.45pm. Dancing on Ice benefitted from moving, and with X Factor dominating Saturdays, it lets them schedule it a bit better.

Thanks for taking the time with this reply.

As I read things, it's not that the BBC actively chases ratings as such, but its efforts to provide quality competitive programmes as an alternative to the other channels is naturally partly demonstrated by the ratings. Got it now.

I like the Sunday show. I find the everything on a Saturday show format too long. I often missed the results as we had plans as a family to do something else or the kids wanted to watch a DVD ''But the dancing has been on for ages already Mum!"

Yes, in a way it would be pointless if all of its programmes were watch by/appealed to only a very small number of people - that would not be value for money for the Licence Fee payer. So, amongst its portfoloio of programmes it has to make programmes that do appeal to a wide range/large number, especially on BBC1 which is the general entertainment channel.