Well a very good start for Big Brother, then. I think that caught most of us by surprise. Too early to declare it a hit yet, of course - we'll have to see where it goes over the next week or two - but its got the best possible chance of success now.

Torchwood took a big hit. Miracle Day really hasn't worked on this side of the pond as they must have been hoping it would. This is the first week its seen relatively high rated opposition on a main network, and its fallen badly. As ever, any recommission is in the hands of Starz. I don't think BBC One are going to be busting a gut for another run.

CBB did very well, it'll be interesting to see tonight's figures as it usually falls but given the lack of competition, I can easily see 3.5-4m tonight.

I think Torchwood depends on Starz but it's clear the series hasn't been that successful. I think the BBC could give a final 5 part series if Starz to give closure to the series and maybe try and get Jack back into Doctor Who.

One sad casualty against THE show last night was Single Handed. For all the show has been well acted and the location interesting, it just hasn't caught the public's imagination. 3 million has been average, SH last night suffering the ultimate squeeze of TW and CBB. However, even a non BB fansince 2005 like me, had to see the new series to see how it was.
My verdict on the new CBB: ratings will be excellent for Channel 5, with an average of 3.5 million, and a whole new demographic attracted to the station. As a show, watchable and with new hosts to replace worn out Davina, also Bit on the Side was amusing.

5pm slot overnights update:

.....Pointless...The Chase...Difference
1/8....2.20m.....1.16m.......+90%
2/8....2.39m.....1.14m.......+110%
3/8....2.31m.....1.24m.......+86%
4/8....2.66m.....1.46m.......+82%
5/8....2.31m.....1.40m.......+65%
8/8....2.51m.....1.48m.......+70%
9/8....2.47m.....1.31m.......+89%
10/8...2.42m.....1.50m.......+61%
11/8...2.38m.....1.60m.......+49%
12/8...2.48m.....1.65m.......+50%
15/8...2.62m.....1.60m.......+64%
16/8...2.34m.....1.67m.......+40%
17/8...2.22m.....1.69m.......+31%

Pointless averages are for 17.15-18.00, The Chase averages are 17.00-18.00

Celebrity Big Brother does tend to attract more mainstream viewers compared to the normal version as you only have to commit a few weeks to it.

Wonder Davina is regretting not coming back to Big Brother, with MPD, Long Lost Family, Biggest Loser and Got to Dance, she's not exactly short of work.

Something tells me that the roles could be reversed once The Chase goes into new mode on Monday 5th September - the repeats look like they're gaining momentum.

A good rating for Casino Royale but I thought it looked a bit out of place on ITV2 considering the channel caters for the young female. It could have done even better on ITV4 immediately after the Sprus vs Hearts match.


Well Torchwood has got over 5m in the officials every single week so far, the lowest being 5.2m.

I do agree that the show is far too padded out with a plot that has been stretched a few episodes too many. I dont think the BBC are to blame, it seems Starz holds all the cards and the BBC's say is minimal.

Is the demo profile different on Five versus what it was on Channel Four? I thought it skewed younger and more evenly male/female previously?

I don't think the beeb have the cash to give into sentimentality...as you say, even with iplayer included the show has entirely failed to capture the buzz of Children of Earth 2 years ago (a buzz the beeb entirely squandered by allowing the show to remain fallow for 2 years and then come back with a facelift which, as with most facelifts, left it looking recogniseable but somehow entirely different).

Sent Russell T Davies a thank you bouquet and some spiel about working on other projects in the future and let that be that.

The Chase obviously gaining momentum with its repeats run. When the new series starts I dont think its beyond the realms of possibility for it to overtake Pointless.



I'm also intrested to see the skews comparative from C4 to C5.

I'll be able to post the demos tomorrow and compare it to last year's launch. About 39% of last summer's BB launch audience on C4 were aged 16-34. I suspect on C5 the skew was lower than that, but sill had a very high no. of 16-34s in raw numbers. The 65/35 female/male split seems normal.

"ITV to increase drama funding by nearly £30m"

"The new drama will be broadcast on ITV1 from 2013, with the rise in hours equivalent to six to seven new series annually and about £28m in extra funding for the genre."

"ITV's drama expansion is partly due to the fact it has no major sporting events scheduled for 2013. It is also an acknowledgement that only a few of the less expensive ITV1 documentary and factual programmes ordered at 9pm since 2009 have performed as well or consistently as drama."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...-drama-funding

Interesting that they are looking for 8pm drama series again. The wheel turns full circle!

Good to see ITV look for dramas that aren't crime dramas, I would assume they'll want another two hour drama series to complement Lewis and Vera, they've been developing Roy Grace although I'm not sure if that is a one hour drama or a two hour drama. I've mentioned before that Packed to the Rafters would be a good one for ITV1 to remake especially as they're around 88 episodes so they have a wealth of material they could use for a first series before developing original ideas.

TWMD hasn't done as well as TWCOE, but even so, taking time shifts into account, its still consistantly been one of the BBC highest rated programmes.

TW MD hasn't been a series thats been 'must watch live' TV, but lots seem to be watching later on demand, dvr, or on iplayer.

They could do worse than bringing back a format something like Holby City but in a police station i.e like The Bill was at certain times of it's history, full of ex soap stars.

I guess it makes sense as the Wednesday 8pm post-Corrie slot is opening up once the football moves to Tuesdays. As I said a few weeks ago, they need to try a few new drama series with an ensemble cast in that slot, one of them will most likely rate well and stick with it with longer series in the future. Basically a similar process to what the BBC did in the mid 00's, which has now resulted in a strong-rated Waterloo Road.

The only disappointment for me from last night's figures. I know it was on earlier than usual but I hope this isn't an indicator that CBB's presence in the schedule isn't going to benefit the shows around it.

Bit on the Side did really well though, so I think The Bachelor has a good chance of launching strongly tonight, especially given the positive writeup in magazines. And The Gadget Show probably has more viewers in common with CBB than Cowboy Builders, so that could benefit too being part of a much stronger schedule than usual.

Overall though deliriously happy with how things went last night, surpassed my wildest expectations really. Now just the small matter of the always tricky second night to deal with...

Glad you enjoyed the show Glenn. I knew it was a case of protesting too much with you. Closet BB fan all along really.

Yes, we need this rating for the Ratings Prediction Thread ....

Good to see ITV increase drama spending. I think what they need is another popular Shed style series like Bad Girls or Footballers Wives which always rated well for them just a few years ago. A move away from crime is also a good idea, that genre is very heavily congested

P.S- Thanks rzt

Not too uncommon across all slots. The last notable occurrence was for the boxing last month. A few Sunday films have also managed it recently.

But in the key 9pm timeslot, much rarer. You'd have to go back a long time.

I reckon it'll increase when it's back at 9pm next week, 8pm needs improving though, Channel 5 have mostly got 9pm and 10pm sorted.


Footballers Wives and Bad Girls lost steam and were trashy, I think ITV1 have moved on those shows.

chuffed for CBB!
Brian Dowling is a brilliant host and the wonderful Emma Willis enticed me into watching BOTS; it's a bit like BB's Big Mouth.
I'll be watching tonight, the polls on the BB forum have over 500 votes

I'd love for ITV to repeat RTE's The Clinic which has unfortunately ended now!
It'd work great on a sunday evening slot!
They could then revive it with a co-production between them and RTE like Single Handed!It can't do worse than Born To Shine

That's a very good peak for Channel 5.