Joe McElderry? The lad who won TXF (or was it BGT) the year before last?

Didn't take him long to go through the "instant fame > one-hit wonder > middling tour > flop album > ITV reality show contestant" cycle did it?

Filler is indeed the right word, but I don't know about ITV but I wasn't expecting anything else. It isn't a good enough show to be a big hit.

Aren't expectations for the two shows different though, in fairness? SYTYCD averaged c.5m last year whilst Popstar To Operastar averaged about 4m. One of the reasons why so many people have criticised SYTYCD's numbers this year, is because its y-o-y fall has been massive (about -2m) . I don't disagree about the possibility of the final of SYTYCD rating marginally better than the 2nd results show of PSTOS. Having said that, I can't see PSTOS dropping to 3.0-3.5m for its performance shows like what episodes of SYTYCD were doing (with a better DW lead-in too and much easier competition - SIYC not AR). Neither do I see its series average being as low as 3.1m.

Whilst yesterday's show did underperform, I can't imagine ITV being too disappointed if the series ends up averaging a consistent 4-5m per week at 8pm. It may well drop below 4m next week, we'll have to wait and see, and if it does it'd be a bad result, but if it remains at 4-5m for the next five weeks that's not disasterous in my book. ITV are indeed traditionally strong in that slot as you've said, but that's in the Autumn/Winter/Spring, but usually they have struggled in the summer there in recent years - a couple of years ago during a non-Euro/World Cup year, for example, they were only managing 3-4m at 8pm on Sundays in the summer! From initial signs, this Royal/PSTOS 7-9pm combo seems rate better than what they were getting at 7-9pm in the summer previously. With The Royal/Heartbeat being dropped and the money for dramas being spent for 9pm, I'm expecting more of these 'summer reality/talent shows' to fill the gaps between the stronger rated parts of the year (indeed there's another 'talent' show coming soon with kids taking part). It might not come back for another series next year though because the Euros should bridge the gap between Spring/Autumn better.

I don't actually think people expected that much of SYTYCD this year. Most people were surprised to see it back at all.

Having said that, I don't think people expected it to collapse in the way that it has either. So that's certainly been a story, and I don't deny the year-on-year decline for it has been sharp, something we are unlikely to see replicated with Popstar.

But I think the expectations for it might have been higher, if say, the BBC had scheduled a 30 minute preview in between two episodes of EastEnders in which a much loved character was killed off or something.

And that's what I'm getting at really. A lot of people thought it was a good use of those 30 minutes to try and boost their big new show for the summer. And it hasn't worked at all going on these numbers.

McElderry is probably going to have a long career on the stage in the West End. So I wouldn't worry about him going back to Tesco anytime soon. And given that he can actually sing a bit, he should be ok.

A bit lower than expected for PTO but still not exactly surprising. I think it's possibly a case of a show getting a second chance because it's an in-house format and it can fill out the Sunday schedule at low cost heading into summer. It's clearly not going to be a returning hit for them, but at this level it isn't particularly bad either. Obviously it could still drop further, though. But I suspect this might be more disappointing for ITV Studios than the ITV1 commissioning team.

Scott & Bailey did alright - a big drop but that was always coming. If it can stay reasonably steady (around 5.5m or more) then it's still another returning series which can run for more than 3 episodes - the kind of show that ITV need to keep adding to their schedules. It was comfortably ahead of Case Histories but that still did pretty well.

Whilst it hasn't really paid off, I can't blame them for trying. In previous years, they've scheduled random one-off shows like 'An Audience with...', 'Girls Aloud...' in those BGT/XF sandwich slots which have rated well but because they were one-off they didn't have any proper long-term impact. ITV have mostly been criticised for doing that because those slots could've been given to a show which could have used the boost. If they had done nothing and just scheduled BGT as one 2.5hr episode like last year, we'd be criticising them for doing that!

Realistically, there were only two shows they could've put in that slot on Saturday - Penn & Teller: Fool Us or Popstar To Operastar. Sitcoms have been suggested but they've only commissioned one and the series hasn't been filmed yet (the pilot is being shown with rest of the series). Celebrity Juice, whilst an interesting idea, wouldn't have had much of an impact as the series has only recently finished. Personally I'd have put Fool Us in that slot because the show has more potential but I can see why they chose PSTOS (airing the next night, more hours in the schedule, higher priority as it's made in-house, etc). It's just the way it goes - sometimes these scheduling tactics work, sometimes they don't, but better to try than do nothing. Anyway, as you mentioned previously the RPG average was 4.8m so it didn't rate too badly down from what people were generally expecting (0.4m below) - it's not as if it massively underformed by 1m+. Next year they'll most likely try another show in that sandwich slot and it might pay off.

PTOS is a curious idea, like a kind of Frankensteins monster for tv, knitting together two musical genres and hoping they gel. Imo there is more chance of putting of both sets of fans than bringing them together.

Great rating for AR considering it was a "best of" show, and very solid as usual for BBC1 all night. Pretty good for The Royal but its strange to see it return after what seems like an age since time was called on the Heartbeat franchises.

It always makes me chuckle when I see people banging on about RS posts. They have always(and he has been around since the start of this thread I think) been designed to be-to an extent- tongue in cheek even granted he bats for the BBC. Some of the replies suggest people take things a bit too seriously imo.

I think peoples minds were pretty made up last year with SYTYCD. It started on a hyped wave following XF/SCD and may have looked the part, but its problems are fundamental in that the type of gymnastic dance that is mostly used(the short solo slots wont grab anyone imo) doesnt sit well with people who (if they are used to any dance at all) are used to SCD with its Waltz and Salsa. In the end its one dance show too many for the Beeb.

But what next........................

Lol no-definitely been fast tracked through all that.

And you can add a further rung to that descent ie Eurovision. The BBC are no doubt rubbing their hands already!

"BBC4 to ditch drama and comedy to focus on arts"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...ma-comedy-arts

The Royal figure was pretty good considering some people will surely have assumed it was just a set of repeats based on the fact that it has been off screen for two years and one of its main cast members died some time ago. Nice touch that they dedicated the episode to him, though.

No, only the successful Cowell stars get Eurovision. People still vaguely remembered those weird Irish twins with the silly hair in 2011.

I bet most have already forgotten who Joe McEldrew is.


We're talking about The Royal. Most of its core viewers probably forgot it was two years since they last saw it, or forgot that they'd stopped bothering to watch it. Some are probably still waiting patiently for the new series of Crossroads.

And for nurse...

I hope to be on these forums when Robbie reaches 50.

He might then discover a few things. Including that being 'old' is not a passport to the funny farm. Though his thinking appears to be well mirrorred at the beeb these days.

The more true statement about The Royal is that you could easily mistake any episode for a repeat as they are all pretty much the same anyhow.

Oh and from two 'oldies' who watch Hollyoaks the figures tonight might reflect that on the Sky EPG Channel 4 have linked Fridays episode to Tuesdays and missed out tonights altogether. Some young uns might not notice that.

Perhaps the programmer was under 40....

Sounds like BBC Four's best days might be over, certainly in ratings terms. But at least they are promising to bolster BBC Two, which probably needs it more.

I'm not sure whether this includes imported drama and comedy or not. Wasn't The Killing really cheap for them? I bet that Icelandic comedy series they aired recently was a bargain buy as well.

The latest officials are out. Scott & Bailey premieres to just over 9m. Series highs are recorded for Waterloo Road (6.12m), The Apprentice: You're Fired (3.53m inc. HD) and The Hotel Inspector (2.00m) among others. Two episodes of Deal or No Deal make Channel 4's top 10 highest rated shows of the week, along with two classic movies. 5USA makes the "Others" top 30 for the first time since January with a high rating NCIS repeat.

Check it all out at www.barb.co.uk.

So I see Britain's Got Talent helped Popst... oh, wait. Maybe the preview show should have been longer to help it more?

Not sure if ITV will be pleased or not. I guess ~4m through the Summer is better than before, though.

And:

Most Watched Shows of 2011 [Top 20 - Officials]
01 - 13.59m - THE ROYAL WEDDING (29/04/11) - BBC1/HD
02 - 12.56m - CORONATION STREET (14/02/11) - ITV1/HD
03 - 11.42m - EASTENDERS (03/01/11) - BBC1/HD
04 - 11.21m - BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (07/05/11) - ITV1/HD
05 - 10.76m - BBC NEWS (29/04/11) - BBC1/HD

06 - 10.26m - COMIC RELIEF (18/03/11) - BBC1/HD
07 - 10.23m - DANCING ON ICE (09/01/11) - ITV1/HD
08 - 9.68m - THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST (14/05/11) - BBC1/HD
09 - 9.52m - EMMERDALE (13/01/11) - ITV1/HD
10 - 9.11m - SCOTT & BAILEY (29/05/11) - ITV1/HD

11 - 8.86m - DOCTOR WHO (23/04/11) - BBC1/HD
12 - 8.80m - BIG FAT GYPSY WEDDINGS (08/02/11) - C4
13 - 8.80m - COME FLY WITH ME (01/01/11) - BBC1/HD
14 - 8.79m - THE APPRENTICE (10/05/11) - BBC1/HD
15 - 8.69m - WILD AT HEART (09/01/11) - ITV1/HD

16 - 8.50m - SILENT WITNESS (17/01/11) - BBC1/HD
17 - 8.31m - UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE (28/05/11) - ITV1/HD
18 - 8.22m - BENIDORM (25/02/11) - ITV1/HD
19 - 8.10m - MIDSOMER MURDERS (02/02/11) - ITV1/HD
20 - 7.98m - LET'S DANCE FOR COMIC RELIEF (19/02/11) - BBC1/HD

Notes:
- No duplicates: i.e. no BGT/DOI in there twice.
- HD audience included for all programmes airing on HD
- BBC1 HD is bundled in automatically with BBC1
- ITV1 +1 excluded
- Thanks to MattJ and rzt for some of the missing ratings off BARB
- The Royal Wedding and BBC News ratings excludes BBC News as BARB do not have that on their website for that week. Also, The Royal Wedding BBC only.

Most Watched Multichannel Shows of 2011 [Top 20 - Officials]
01 - 2.69m - LIVE FORD SUPER SUNDAY - MATCH (06/02/11) - Sky Sports 1
02 - 2.63m - GLEE (17/01/11) - E4
03 - 2.25m - CELEBRITY JUICE (19/05/11) - ITV2
04 - 2.00m - HATTIE (19/01/11) - BBC4
05 - 1.97m - LIVE FORD FOOTBALL SPECIAL (01/03/11) - Sky Sports 2

06 - 1.94m - UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE (12/04/11) - Sky Sports 2
07 - 1.77m - MAD DOGS (03/03/11) - Sky1
08 - 1.71m - FAMILY GUY (22/05/11) - BBC3
09 - 1.69m - JUNIOR DOCTORS (15/03/11) - BBC3
10 - 1.67m - EASTENDERS (19/04/11) - BBC3

11 - 1.57m - THE ONLY WAY IS ESSEX (04/05/11) - ITV2
12 - 1.57m - BEING HUMAN (23/01/11) - BBC3
13 - 1.56m - FILM: INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (25/04/11) - BBC3
14 - 1.49m - FILM: INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (30/04/11) - BBC3
15 - 1.47m - LIVE FORD MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (11/04/11) - Sky Sports 1

16 - 1.45m - GAME OF THRONES (18/04/11) - Sky Atlantic
17 - 1.43m - LIVE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL (26/03/11) - Sky Sports 1
18 - 1.43m - FAMILY GUY (15/05/11) - BBC3
19 - 1.41m - MIDSOMER MURDERS (08/01/11) - ITV3
20 - 1.37m - GOT TO DANCE (27/02/11) - Sky1

Source: BARB. Excludes +1, Includes HD for Terrestrial Chart. Only 1 programme per 'show', i.e. only one Ford Super Sunday game.

You do realise when I poke fun at ITV's oldie-targeted programming, I'm responding in kind to the ITVistas who continually and to much general amusement and agreement on here level the same charge at flagship BBC programmes...


Scrap it completely for me. I have nothing against BBC Four, but the Beeb could surely save serious money by continuing to commission probably 70-80% of its output but airing it to larger BBC1 and BBC2 audiences, which would mean money could then also be saved from BBC1 and BBC2 budgets. A dedicated "highbrow" channel is something of an indulgence in these cash-strapped times.

BBC3 then becomes the "breeding ground" channel for 1 and 2.

Strong night yet again for BBC1. In Countryfile and Antiques Roadshow they've found two strong programmes that appear to hold up whatever the opposition. But is that it for pre-watershed programming on BBC1? Are they not going to try any other show in the slots? That's a very good figure for Case Histories, but it will probably fall tonight thankes to Injustice. Why do the BBC and ITV seem to clash documentary and documentary and drama and drama? Don't they talk?


Not a great night for BBC2. Coast seemed to struggle. Obviously everything moving everything back 15 minutes due to the tennis didn't help, but the tennis itself rated very well.


ITV will be content if each programme can hold those kind of figures throughout the weeks. The Royal especially performed well against Countrywise. It think it shoudl see a slight boost next week, as it'll be up against Formula One. Popstar to Operastar was not a disaster by any stretch of the imagination, but the results show is poorly scheduled but we said that from the start!


The Home Alone franchise does seem to perform well, even when it's not Christmas! An ok night for Channel 4 but not a brilliant one. They'll be very pleased with the relevant demos though, but considering how BBC1, BBC2 and ITV1 were skewing old maybe it shouldn't be such a surprise.


Two old films for Channel 5; IIRC other films have performed better in the slot. The cricket was affected by the fact there wasn't much to show - tonight's highlights package should be much more interesting!


Hmm, the first episode wasn't affected by Popstar to Operasta Results was it?

BTW I should've said before - many thanks to those who take their time to write out the figures in this format (as well as those who collate them in the first place!). It's much appreciated.

You're welcome. I don't normally do the UK ratings, it was a nice change.


Rambo was a premiere (as in the 2008 revival).

I didn't realise they'd released a remake of Rambo! Shows how much I know about film lol.

I hope that anything BBC 4 ditches can end up on BBC 2.

IMO All BBC 4 dramas and comedies should have been on BBC2 in the first place!!

For me they should ditch BBC3 as well and split it's budget between BBC1 and BBC2. That way the main channels will improve and BBC won't have as many digital commitments to concern themselves about.

I'm not a fan of those films either to be honest. I watched CSI Sunday instead.