Although would I be right in thinking that Masterchef figure is still higher than any of the Big Brother finales - certainly since around 2004/5 at least.


It makes you wonder if ITV might have been better off tearing up their schedule to accomodate Simon Cowell and letting The X Factor run over the summer and move BGT to the autumn.

TXF could have had audition shows in April/May and live shows from June to August and though the summer might hit them, they'd still be good for a guaranteed 10m IMO on around 30 nights over the summer, especially if it meant keeping Simon Cowell on board.

Britain's Got Talent would then air auditions from September and either have a week of live shows in the October half-term or have them a weekend in November/early December. Personally I'd stick with the live shows across a single week and trial something new in Nov/Dec when they've got I'm a Celebrity to prop up the schedule, although if BGT did continue with live shows at weekends that would see ITV through to December quite easily.

I don't think ITV is in such a drastic mess as people make out as the returning hits are only a few weeks away and ratings for ITV1 will go back up to 20 pc. However, one type of show they must miss, which always guaranteed at least 10 million( read 5 million in today's market), in summer is the lavishly made American mini series that they could spin out over several nights. I can remember large audiences eagerly awaiting their next fix of North and South and Rich Man Poor Man.

I think that's a very optimistic estimate. It wasn't until November before ITV1 started hitting 20%+ shares last year.

I'm guessing Glenn A means primetime shares? As you say, ITV1 won't be hitting 20%+ in the weekly all-day shares at all apart from IAC weeks. In primetime though, they'll be up from the ~17.5% averages they've had in recent weeks into the 20's.

Another fail from Channel 5.

Advertising the launch of Big Brother... with the wrong date.

So it wasn't so much making it look like the 17th to fool Channel 4 and more like switching it to the 18th at the very last moment.

I know I said I wouldnt discuss BB scheulding, but that is very funny.

They obviously cowered away from Twilight on C4, and changed at the last minute.

They'll claim its the OKTV special on Wednesday afternoon .

Big ratings for News channels tonight, over 2m for BBC News maybe? Highest ever ratings? Everyone seems to be talking about it.

Show me the Funny will be dented by at least 1 viewer as I've been following it but can't take my eyes off BBC News Channel.

(I don't have a BARB box by the way, sadly)

what this forum would be like if we all had BARB boxes.

It does not bear thinking about

....and Roots and The Thornbirds. I don't think the broadcast networks make those sort of shows any more. They seem to be on premium cable, like the recent Mildred Pierce from HBO.

Kate would have struggled on network TV, with her penchant for getting her kit off!!

I don't know if it will top 2m but I agree the ratings should be very high for the news channels tonight - BBC News in particular, everyone is talking about it.

if its BBC News im sure everyone is objecting to the clear London bias in the coverage of the riots

Yes Iv recorded New Tricks-however Show Me The Funny can hardly afford to lose another viewer.

Can't see them in the main post for Sundays ratings but any figures for the main news bulletins last night?

Haven't seen them anywhere I'm afraid.

Think figures will be dented heavily all around tonight on the terrestrial channel tonight.

It didn't really gather pace until today so I doubt there would be much difference. Todays are the one to watch and tomorrows breakfast programmes.

Coverage was limited last night simply because it was a Sunday. There was still rioting going on, albeit on a smaller scale than what we've seen tonight.

Clearly the news figures are going to go through the roof. With a New Tricks lead-in I'd imagine a 7m+ overnight for BBC News at Ten is not out of the question.

The riots seems to be the main talk on social networks, people i know who barely know the PM's name have been discussing watching the news. I'll expect big figures tomorrow.

I agree, although if a decent number are already on the News Channel they may stay there instead of watching BBC1

ITV News at Ten will of course be sub 2m due to the lead in.

10m combined across BBC, ITV and Sky is a real possibility at 10pm. That probably hasn't happened for a while. I'd be very interested to see the overall reach figures. I predict around 6.7m for BBC, 2m for ITV, 1.3m for BBC News and 0.8m for Sky News. But I'll probably be way off.

I was surprised Andy that the News Channel chose to simulcast NaT. Is that normal during a big breaking news story? Not a criticism, just something that struck me as odd.

Like many others I suspect I've been channel hopping all evening, catching short bursts of coverage from here there and everywhere. Sky News at Ten carried a touching interview with the owners of the furniture store which was totally devastated by fire in Croydon.

Dont they always simulcast NAT?