Idol's first promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVDmnbl-spg

Incredibly exciting.

And X Factor tweeting that there is a surprise in tomorrow's show. Anyone seen anything in papers? Usually if Cowell has a "surprise" lined up its leaked everywhere for maximum publicity.

Apparently Jedward are back singing 'Ghostbusters.'

I cant imagine it is anything major, they have three guest performers confirmed already. Maybe a Cheryl Cole arse wipe for getting a number one mime?


Surely they would have been advertised well in advance?

Some over nights for you

SCD 10.4
Merlin 5.8

TV Burp 5.6
X Factor 12.2

The SCD and XF gap is closing!! Last year there was around 4m in it between it, now there's less than 2m.

Thank you. Do they include HD or not? It looks like they do but not 100% sure.

Strong rating for The X Factor which was its joint most watched Saturday episode this series and up 18% vs. same night last year. TV Burp was up 6% vs. same night last year.

Excellent for Strictly Come Dancing - a new series high rating and a very good rating for Merlin too, same as last week.

On the same weekend last year, X Factor was 1.9m ahead of SCD. Yesterday's gap was virtually the same.

On Sunday nights, though, X Factor has been about 4m ahead of Strictly so far this series.

That'll be down to Strictly improving significantly, and they've really improved it this year, I was impressed with what I saw yesterday. Excellent for The X Factor, and well up on last year's Halloween episode. I can't see it doing much better tonight tbh due to it being Halloween. Very good for Merlin and TV Burp too, and whilst Burp is down on last year 5.6m is still impressive against Strictly.

Anything for Life Stories? Thanks.

All those figures include HD

Some others

All Star FF 3.4
You've been framed 4.1
Piers Morgan 5.3

Nat Lott 3.9
Casualty 4.2
Armstrong and Miller 3.5

I'm a bit surprised by that Life Stories rating because last Autumn, no episode post-XF had 5m+, not even Danni Minogue's. I was expecting it to get about 4.5-5m like how other episodes have done when featuring singers (except Cheryl of course).

Casualty did alright but I agree with what Robbie said last week, in that they'd be better off having Casualty follow Merlin directly. Perhaps, however, it's a National Lottery issue and they can't have it any other time? Okay for Armstrong and Miller - quite similar to how it performed last year in its other slot.

Even though Halloween is tonight, I don't think it'll affect X Factor too much as its a school night, with the kids going back tomorrow.

I expected a drop for X Factor, so surprised to see an increase. In fact, all ITV's line-up did better than previous weeks, with the exception of Morgan, but I don't think that drop is surprising.

Very good figures for Strictly and Merlin, while Casualty stayed above 4m.

Thanks Barkers_Nipple.


I'd argue that Rod Stewart is a bigger name than the other singers he's had on though. I didn't think he'd do that well but I thought he'd definitely get one of Piers' higher ratings - maybe last week's rating had a knock-on effect too? I won't be surprised if he's above 5m next week too with SuBo on. He's definitely has better guests this time, which have boosted his ratings nicely.

Just looked at the officials for Sky Sports News and compared to the same week last year, when it was on Freeview too.

Oct 17 2010. Daily Reach 2.026m, Weekly Reach 6.047m

Oct 18 2009. Daily Reach 2.055m, Weekly Reach 6.666m

What happened to the 40% drop that was predicted?

Great rating for Strictly. It shows why the programme should start after 6pm. Merlin stands up well against The X Factor and I really do think that if it didn't clash it'd get 7 million easily.

Another great rating for The X Factor and it looks on target to get its highest rated final ever this year.Piers Morgan really benefits from following the show.

Excellent ratings for Strictly and X-Factor. X-Factor did well to fight off the Halloween slump. Strictly even managed to beat last year's final performance show and was level with last year's final results show which logged 10.05m (41.5%) and 10.42m (42.3%) respectively. Amazing considering we're not even out of October yet.

What I find interesting about American Idol is that Jennifer Lopez is getting I think around $13 million a series. But Simon Cowell was being paid $36 million a year to stay. That shows how important Cowell was considered to be for the show.

Yesterday wasnt Halloween though and maybe it coinciding with Saturday last year was a perfect storm so to speak. It will be interesting to see if there is any effect tonight.

X Factor continues to dominate and Strictly has really stormed on this year-it just shows how tailoring the cast list is so important. Dreadful news in the Express today though suggesting that Barrowman is hot favourite to take over when Bruce eventually gives up. I reckon that if there is anyone at the BBC who secretly wants rid of Strictly then the one sure way of setting it on that path is to appoint JB.

I don't think that he'd be a good host for the show. Dare I say Graham Norton and even I can't believe I'm saying that. But he is witty, quick and really would do a good job.

Sadly this isn't the Bruce of The Gen Game in the seventies hosting Strictly.

Here we most definitely agree!

I thought that the channel wasn't that big on freeview, outside the Soccer Saturday shows??

Makes you wonder if that is the case, would ESPNEWS be worthwhile on freeview as well?

Barrowman being lined up to succeed Brucie according to red-top reports today

Superb for Strictly. I watched it yesterday, and thought the halloween theme made it particularly watchable. I suspect the Widdecombe effect is bringing viewers in too, and the 6.25pm start is crucial too in bringing up the average - 6pm too early.

The gap is really closing though as TXF stands still, failing to find new viewers this time round. Is 12.2m an identical overnight to last Saturday? The "big mo" is clearly with SCD this year.

I like John Barrowman but you really do need a good host for the show. Bruce is good but not as good as he was when he was hosting The Generation Game. He was peerless during that period.

Graham Norton would be so much better.

Does it need a male presenter - Tess and Claudia anchor the Sunday show now, I assumed that might be a trial run?

Barrowman sounds an awful idea, Norton would probably be acceptable.

The production values on the Strictly Halloween special were far superior to X Factor and I never thought that would happen.

The graphics, music, set, props, consumes - all amazing.

X Factor seemed to lose its theme all the way through - some sections it was barely noticable.