They could launch The Voice initially in January for 6 weeks prior to the 6 Nations. I think DW will be on in Autumn next year for the entire run so that could be a SCD/DW double bill. Maybe The Voice could be on in Spring in 2013 alongside the final series of Merlin.

I recall the ITV controllor of entertainment saying recently that the next big hit was unlikely to be a talent singing contest and that ITV were trying to look elsewhere for the next big thing. I think the point she was making was that saturation point was being reached and that the next breakout LE format would come from elsewhere.

So either BBC1 is very smart or very dumb to be betting the Saturday night farm on The Voice. Any guesses on which one?

I'm looking forward to 'The Voice' but I have a fear that Barrowman will be involved. In which case I would have to miss it. The BBC seem to want him to Mr Variety/Mr Saturday night

I hope I'm wrong and he is not involved.

I honestly think BBC1 should steer well clear of The Voice. It screams The X Factor clone.

Yesterday's BGT averaged 10.3m/42% (inc +1), according to Radio Times news editor Tim Glanfield.

So here are the overnight ratings for Britain's Got Talent so far this series:

Auditions 1 - 9.95m/10.44m (exc/inc +1)... -2/-6% vs 2010
Auditions 2 - 8.99m/9.52m... -9%/-14%
Auditions 3 - 9.06m/9.45m... -8%/-12%
Auditions 4 - 9.95m/10.41m... -6%/-9%
Auditions 5 - 8.10m/8.36m... -14/-16%
Auditions 6 - 9.63m/10.00m... +2%/+6%
Auditions 7 - 9.9m/10.3m... +2%/+6%

AUDITIONS - 9.4m/9.8m... -4%/-8%

Note: 9.9m auditions 7 average is estimation at the moment, assuming +1 audience is similar to previous weeks

So overall the auditions stage has rated -4%/-8% lower than last year (depending on if you want to include +1 or not). ITV will probably look at the -4% decline. That's absolutely fine IMO considering how well last year's audition shows generally rated and with the changes to the show, holiday effect for two of those weeks and tougher Eurovision competition this year, the drop is reasonable. Encouragingly, the last two episodes have been up from the equivalent shows last year which bodes well in terms of momentum for the live shows. It's possible that if the live shows experience a boost vs 2010, the overall series average could be just slightly under or even level to last year's average.

Why do people talk like XF is some completely original format that had never been created before? It's just a rip off of Pop Idol which in turn was a rip off of Pop Stars. There are loads of different singing talent show formats all over the world. There's nothing unique about it.

Its hard to see it ever being as big as TXF. Maybe all they want is a moderate success though but if thats the case the budget will also have to be modest.

ITV1+1 only launched in January 2011.

So how can it be down more including +1 (as there was no +1 last year)?

Surely it must be down more excluding +1?

I should've made it clearer: The auditions stage was down -8% (excluding +1) or -4% (including +1) compared to last year:

2010 Auditions Average: 10.2m
2011 Auditions Average (exc +1): 9.4m
2011 Auditions Average (inc +1): 9.8m

I just put the smaller number first before the forward slash, and the larger number after the slash.

No doubt should Cowell call it a day with TXF, then no doubt the following year an identical show would arrive with a new name, unless dating shows come back into fashion which could happen as Take Me Out grew in popularity.

OK, thanks!

We know this but it is just viewed as derivative in many people's eyes. Fame Academy suffered because Pop Idol was already established. The X Factor fills that market. BBC1 should try and find a different format for a light entertainment hit. Unless it has big judges it won't take off. And I think BBC Light Entertainment has lost the populist touch that it had under the legendary Bill Cotton. And no more dance shows BBC.

Sounds like Absolutely Fabulous could have a Christmas Day slot this year. According to a quote which was from Jennifer Saunders on Radio2 today:

Without wanting to enter the debate about whether or not +1 "should" be included in comparisons, I think it's fair to say that +1 has given ITV a sort of "one off gain".

ie it's not something that can be done again in the future.

ie if in 2011 it's considered fair to do a comparison of 2010 vs 2011 (inc +1) then when you come to comparing 2012 vs 2011 you are going to be back to a strict like for like comparison again.

+2; +1.5; +3 ???

Thought someone might say that.

The problem however is surely going to be:

1) Lack of freeview slots
2) Lack of decent EPG positions on Sky / VM

Yeah, it's only this year when doing year-on-year comparisons will be difficult due to the fact of ITV1+1 launching in January 2011 (that's why I post both the exc and inc. +1 figures when I can to get both sets). From next year it should be back to a proper like-for-like comparison what with the +1 having launched the previous year anyway.

Like I say, you cant do something like The Voice on a shoestring. Apart from SCD(which just worked) the BBC has not tried with panels in what seems like endless lookalike/Euro very poor attempts at talent shows. Even their one comparative hit-the Lloyd Webber shows-the panel just consists of people shouting "you can be my leading man/lady" at the top of their voices.
With SYTCD failing badly and Lloyd Webber seemingly off the scene the BBC needs something which they seem incapable of providing themselves. Im not surprised they are looking at buying something in-but it needs clout and I doubt they have the nous to make it work like it should.

This is going to have to be handled very carefully from a PR point of view.

Over the next 7 months, the BBC is going to be announcing some pretty major cuts. It's not just going to be more speculation - final official sign-off on cuts is expected from the BBC Trust before the end of the year.

It is going to be very difficult indeed to announce a big new show with a big budget including in particular any big salaries (ie fees) being paid to "stars".

excellent result for Dontown Abbey and Pretty Woman, same true for ITV as well.

did I miss something?


edit: I see it launched on Aussie Tv - i never look at those figures

ITV2+1 will extend its broadcasting hours by 1 hour on Freeview everywhere except Wales on Wednesday, broadcasting from the new time of 6pm through to 6am. It currently begins broadcasting at 7pm each evening. In Wales where it timeshifts with BSkyB's Challenge, this will remain the case.

The service was previously available 24/7 on the platform until it was replaced in its former slot by ITV1+1 in January 2011. The combination of competing with ITV's newest timeshift service and losing the daytime hours on the UK's biggest digital TV platform hit it hard, with ITV2+1's share of the audience dropping from 0.6% in quarter 4 2010 to 0.3% in quarter 1 2011, and helped ITV3 briefly overtake ITV2 as Britain's most watched digital channel for the first 3 months of 2011.

However, ITV2 (and +1) regained the lead in April 2011 thanks to success with hit programmes such as The Only Way is Essex and Celebrity Juice.

That's BBC1's problem. Lots of moderated light entertainment successes but only one megahit with Strictly, compared to ITV with The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and Dancing On Ice.

5m at best, sounds like a bit of underpredicting to me.


Thanks for that Robbie. it certainly does add context and makes S+B's rating less special then at first glance.


I guess that is why The Royle Family isnt being lined up this year.

BBC LE does seem to have lost its way badly. The only real hit in recent years has been SCD, but think of all the flops like SYTYCD, Don't Scare The Hare and Total Wipeout. Also it won't be long before the public's taste for dancing and talent contests wanes.