Seems that DOND has been extended - Countdown now 3.10-3.55, DOND from 3.55-5.00. Over an hour of DOND? Really? I guess there must be some revamp, it's dragged out bad enough as is. Countdown starts too early already for my liking.

Trailers - how dare they!

Never underestimate the power of live tv - nobody knows what could happen.

What are the ratings for DOND as Channel 4 do seem to have a lot of faith in it, even though it's on too much and the format has become stupid?

Until BBC1 do something different, ITV1's line-up will stay the same. Both line-ups = predictable.

How do you know the rating already?

BBC1 will obviously win by a large margin but I think there will be a small swing towards ITV this year, for the following reasons:

- Coronation Street is going through a strong patch
- Emmerdale is going through a strong patch
- EastEnders is apparantly going through a rough patch
- Doctor Who isn't as big a event as last year
- BBC1 are less competitive after 10pm this year (a new programme rather than a much loved hit and the news!), which may make ITV's 2 hour drama a bit more attractive.
- There isn't a really big 'the one to watch this Christmas' event this year, it's just the same old same old on both channels.

I would like to bet though that regardless of what happens, The Royle Family and Come Fly with Me will be slated on DS for being poor but will both do 8m+

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...&postcount=189

The official/consolidated ratings are available as its been over a week since it aired.

It's time you faced up to a few home truths, Robbie. This is not America. Or Australia. The BBC is not a commercial TV channel. The ratings battle isn't the same here as it is in other countries.

The BBC is committed to so many hour long Panoramas per year. More in-depth investigations that don't clash with Coronation Street.

The licence fee means they can produce dramas like Accused where they don't have to worry about the ratings, though I have to say I think they judge by ratings far too much and I say that as a BBC person who loves to see them trounce ITV in the ratings.

They also have to balance the books. They can't be spending wildly every night, hence the reason for repeats like New Tricks. That repeat means less competition for Being Ronnie Corbett on BBC2. As you said when people were commenting on how Strictly could get a boost for the snow, BBC1 is not the only channel available for people to watch. Look at how Miranda has been ahead of Panorama on Monday nights.

You should also remember that Come Rain was originally scheduled for tonight (so not in Christmas week). ITV moved it when BBC1 moved The Apprentice Final from Wednesday to a plummer Sunday night slot. There's a bit of aggresive scheduling from the BBC for you.

In the past too they've often done an extended promotion for Christmas shows running for around 10 minutes - usually it's earlier in the month but they could easily have done that on Thursday previewing the weekend.

As discussed previously though most of us can find numerous better slots for numerous BBC programmes this year. Personally as I say when Casualty is ousted out of it's slot for things like Eurovision and football games I'd say the same for Christmas - if the BBC don't want it on the Saturday, don't commission it for that Saturday.


Really the only surprise is they didn't extend DOND sooner - it's quite easy to spread to an hour by moving the breaks to in-between Round 1, R3 and R5 rather than R2 & R4 and a bit more banter. The running time itself will probably only be 8 minutes longer. What irritates me though is the stupid times - no reason at all why Countdown can not be at 3.15pm and DOND at 4pm - they don't need that extra 5 minutes at all and get no advertising benefit from it, unlike say shows ending at 11.05pm where the ads following the programme are pushed into the quota for the 11pm hour - or extending to 70 minutes to get an extra ad break.

Personally I'd have rather seen Countdown move to 3.45pm and Deal or No Deal air 4.30-5.30pm, with one of the 5pm shows axed - but I guess they rate too well to axe them and C4 still want the option of hour-long shows at 5pm.

I agree, though I dont think for one minute that BBC bosses were making Accused on the basis that it would get sub 4 million audiences. I think that they will, privately, be a touch disappointed. And thrusting SCD straight into X Factor last year proves that the competitive edge is always there-even if it was a bit of a bit disaster. Panorama gets too many audiences around 3 million imo whatever the subject matter. I think its that the brand is tired and maybe the BBC should look at that -in the end there is not much point in making public service tv if the public dont watch it.

And you accuse others of over-predicting? Oh the hypocrisy.

Millonnaire will be lucky to get 5m against NewTricks, a show that always repeats well. I think Come Rain or Shine should get around 7m for the two hours but little more.

Saying that, I am surprised how weak BBC1's Christmas week is. This is where they should be pushing home the advantage of weak commercial opposition; not going weak themselves.

I think the Apprentice could make 10million tonight!

I think this final is very untelling!

SPOTY is running VERY late, looks like a late start for The Apprentice final.

But BBC1's schedule is successful if uninspiring. I believe they should take more risks really - especially as a ready made audience is there. I'm glad they're launching a new show on Christmas Day at least.

Am I right in thinking it's one hour to announce the winner followed by an hour long You're Hired? If so the second hour will dent the overall rating, I think.

yes Come FLy With Me could easily flop, none of the promos ive seen for it, are that inspiring, it may end up making people long for the return of "Airpot"

It should have a good launch. ITV and Five will be halfway through a programme when it begins and Channel 4 are airing a repeat of Tooth Fairy. And the lead in from The Royle Family should be very healthy.

Yes and as it's billed as one 2 hour programme it will only get one overall rating. With SPOTY now overrunning, The Apprentice will not finish until 11:05-11:10. Far too late on a Sunday night and therefore a lower headline rating figure.

What were last year's ratings for SPOTY and TA by the way?

Dara follows immediately after Lord Sugar chooses his Apprentice.

Not for the first time I don't get George Dixon's bamboozling scheduling. The 9pm start for The Apprentice is far too late considering it's a two hour programme. I guess the risk was people would switch over after the winner is announced rather than watch You're Hired, but it's not as though any other channel has put up a challenge. They should've had Countryfile at 5, SPOTY at 6-8 and then The Apprentice 8-10 IMO.

In comparison to previous years, SPOTY didn't over run at all. The winner is almost always announced after the billed finish time.


As for a better schedule - well The Apprentice sticking to Wednesday at 9pm with You're Hired following on BBC2 (there is no Newsnight) would have given them a boost midweek, and then playing out Countryfile tonight at 7pm with SPOTY at 8pm would have given them just as comfortable a victory tonight too.

Very true. Where would BBC2 air The Other Boleyn Girl though?

They clearly use Sundays so they can have You're Hired straight after, picking up 6-7m IIRC. Much better than how it would do on Wednesdays on BBC Two. I think The Apprentice works well - as does the whole concept of this 'Winners Weekend'.

I wouldn't be worried about the 11pm finish. The second hour is an aftershow. If the BBC used common sense and billed them as two seperate hours we wouldn't even be talking about it.

DOND drags at 45 minutes, the Australian version is much better as it's only half an hour.

I've seen the Aussie version and it's far better. The British DOND has become a bore that Channel 4 seem to want to flog to death.