Hits of 2010: Strictly Come Dancing and
The X Factor for increasing their ratings in a year when
Dancing on Ice slipped over (see what I did there?) and
Britain's Got Talent looked a little unsteady on its feet.
SCD looked better for its refresh, and impressed in the ratings after a tricky 2009 series. I don't watch
The X Factor, but seeing little bits is unavoidable. It did well to increase its already high ratings, particularly so, as on the evidence of what I saw, there was little or no revamping. The biggest change was probably the boot polish on Louis Walsh's hair.
Misses of 2010: Aside from the obvious, I'd nominate
Coronation St, in a year where
EastEnders and
Emmerdale made ratings progress: the former sneaking past 16m for its live episode, and the latter hitting 10m, I believe, early in the year. Obviously, the reduction in clashes helped, but both shows had some fantastic reactions from viewers at various stages of 2010, albeit partially offset by some weaker material. However,
Coronation St's ratings were pretty unspectacular for large parts of the year: the siege week was just the sort of thing to alienate most of the show's audience, even without the unfortunate timing, and the OTT tram crash provided the biggest unintentional comedy moment of the year, with its unconvincing CGI, and farcical shots of the tram driver, although it did bring a bit of ratings relief in a year when the other best ratings news came from the uplift from the new BARB panel.
Disappointments of the year: the further cuts in situation comedy on BBC One, down from 33 hours (excluding Christmas specials) in 2009, to 19 hours (excuding Christmas specials) in 2010.
Sitcom repeat hours were probably cut even more drastically, replaced by Jay Hunt's beloved light factual.
Channel 4: the extent of its ambition the expensive poaching of has-beens from other broadcasters, all the while pleading poverty to anyone who'd listen and anyone who wouldn't listen.
We have sky+ these days, a +1 channel it not required. It's hard enough trying to work out ITV ratings with the HD element not included in BARB's chart and the +1 is just going to add more complications. I just wish BARB would buddle all the figures together now as it's hard to get an accurate picture of how all their shows are doing, especially as the HD chart only has 10 entries.
