Can I just I didn't notice how high the BBC1 share was from 10 to about 11:30 (compared to everyone else).

I refer you to post #2961.

More peole are watching Doctor Who now in total than were watching when David Tennant was the Doctor. That is the only Doctor Who ratings stat that matters.

Can't see Downton breaking 10m in overnights - the X Factor lead-in from the auditions episode will be lower than the lead-ins it was getting from the results shows last year. Should still do very well, though.

I think X Factor will be at a similar level to last week. Even big shows suffer from lead-ins as bad as Holding out for a Hero. Plus, it was a seriously, seriously bad episode rounded out with a recap of the auditions so far (that won't help Downton). Terrible idea to run that episode as the last one before bootcamp.

No doubt ITV will once again be tested to see how low Holding out for a Hero can go before they pull it.

Obsession with Dr Who overnights here (do any ratings thread posters actually watch it?) - All I know for sure is it timeshifts extremely well, overnights are useful for advertisers and tabloid journalists, come the end the year Dr Who will make the top 30 programmes - that is all that matters.

I am glad to be back after a 48 hr ban, not sure what I posted - but it must have rattled somebody.

I agree, it was a really poor episode. Strange as the auditions have been pretty good on the whole (even last night's episode wasn't bad). It basically felt like leftovers that hadn't made previous episodes. I don't think the recap will do any damage, and I don't think the quality of the episode will hit next week's ratings (if it was a factor BGT's auditions would have lost several million well on week on a couple of occasions this year!).

Holding Out For A Hero was actually quite well received by those that tuned in so I can't see it going much lower tonight, but I can't see much improvement happening either. High 2s-3m seems about right. I'm not sure if it'll damage X Factor as I think last week it was hit by BBC1 not running on the hour, as rzt's demos showed Sunday's episode was up on Saturday's with 16-34s, and the decline was mainly older viewers who BBC1 probably caught with Countryfile getting a head start. BBC1 are running on the hour tonight so that won't be a factor. The quality of the episode won't hit the ratings either as viewers won't have known it was a stinker until they watched it. I can't see it quite matching last year's 11.6m though.

As for Downton, whilst the lead in will be lower, the hype has been massive all year. I can't see it hitting 10m due to the drama clash but I don't think it'll be far off.

My predictions are (inc +1 for ITV):

Holding Out For A Hero - 2.9m
The X Factor - 11.2m
Downton Abbey - 9.5m

Spooks - 5.0m

Today's 4 Premier League games had many goals in total, and the worst miss in Premier League history - MOTD2 should get a decent audience.

They're probably replacing him with Rodney Bewes. Now that would really annoy Bolam as they haven't spoken since 1976.
Actually I feel sorry for Bewes as since their split he hasn't done much except for bit parts and theatre work. Meanwhile Bolam has been in massive ratings hits like Only When I Laugh, When the Boat Comes In, The Beiderbecke Tapes, Shipman and New Tricks.

It will be interesting to see if the Telegraph story turns out to be true. If it is, in many ways his departure won't be a surprise. He walked away from Born and Bred when it was popular, and he has stayed with New Tricks for longer than I expected.

The BBC press release hinted at all four main actors returning for the next two series, and I recall a recent Radio Times article suggesting all four were likely to sign up again, and possibly eventually all walking away if one of them left at some point in the future.

Bolam is an old man, though, and I personally don't think he looks particularly good for his age, either, so twenty more episodes over two years might be a commitment too far for him.

Time will tell.

As for Spooks v Downton Abbey, I think 4.9m v 9.9m.

Was surprised to see it was MOTD2 tonight - thought with Man Utd v Chelsea it would be promoted to BBC1.

I watch it.

I gave Downton half an hour, like I did this time last year, but it's just not my thing. Rather slow I thought. Really can't see what the fuss is about, but 11m viewers disagree.

Don't understand why Downton fans on here think a series which grew to 10m overnight viewers, not including Scots, last year will rate lower than last time out. With STV and the all summer long "Downtongasm", this cannot fail to overnight at 10m. With a fair wind, it could conceivably get 2m more than that.

Spooks will get slaughtered, at least on the overnights. I think 3.5-4m. But it should timeshift ok.

No doubt someone will be along shortly to point out why I'm talking rubbish, and why DA can't possibly get a rating higher than 2m less than what its last episode got....

I Thought the X Factor was really good tonight. And the talent has been really good through the whole of the auditions that's why the ratings have held up so well.

Me to. Even live occasionally.

And now for the TV event of the autumn, the eagerly awaited new series - of Curb Your Enthusiasm on More4....

...at 11.05pm on a Sunday. Crazy!

I wonder how poorly that will rate?!

Understandable. If period drama isn't "your thing", then there'll be nothing in Downton for you. There isn't really anything remarkable or groundbreaking about it - in fact, it relies on a lot of extremely familiar tropes. But it's just an impeccably executed production. A sort of "perfect" period drama, hitting all the buttons that anyone who enjoys the genre would appreciate.

And I do think it'll be massive tomorrow morning - I went for 9.8m on the DSRPG and I think 10m is a very real possibility, given the constant press attention it's garnered over the course of the year. It's just the "buzz" TV drama in Britain at the moment - where every twist and turn will be poured over by the newspapers and people almost feel compelled to watch if only so they can join those conversations at work. A rare example of a drama achieving the sort of national awareness that shows like TXF, Strictly and The Apprentice thrive off.

It seems quite fitting that we're discussing Doctor Who today - which was probably the last TV drama to achieve that sort of status. Fairly obviously, 7 years on from its revival, it doesn't command the same number of column inches it once did. And subsequently those 'event-driven' overnights have sagged somewhat. I don't necessarily think thats criticism of the actors or producers - overall, the numbers watching and enjoying each episode hasn't fallen by much (if at all) and there's no reason the show shouldn't have a long and prosperous life ahead of it. It's just a natural re-adjustment for a show that benefitted so much from becoming a media 'event' - a process that we'd doubtless see Downton go through if it should last that long.

I know that 're-adjustment' phrase sounds like terrible spin, but I think there's some truth in it.

Moffat has said over and over again the BBC do not care what DW's overnight rating is. I don't know why he'd be wrong or lie about this when he could say nothing.

NB: I have seen all 673 existing episodes of Doctor Who. I don't post on this thread much though.

Downton Abbey, Maggie Smith and Mr Bates are all trending on twitter tonight. Not bad for a show that skews old. Nothing from spooks is trending.

I thought the show tonight was excellent to be fair, the acting was great.

I hope it does well in the ratings, but of it doesnt get 10 million no doubt RobbieSkyes and the like will say its a flop. (BTW Im also a big fan of Curb Your Enthusiasm and agree thats an awful slot for such a funny programme).

Glee was also advertised during tonight X Factor and i'll be really intrested to see its ratings next Thursday. Could be close to 2 million, similar to its E4 peak.

It's hardly rocket science is it. Especially for members who have followed this thread for years.

I went a good one million low in the RPG for Downton Abbey - just looking at the barb ratings for series 1 (2010) including HD

Ep 1 - 9.24m
Ep 2 - 9.97m
Ep 3 - 8.97m
Ep 4 - 9.70m
Ep 5 - 9.40m
Ep 6 - 9.84m
Ep 7 - 10.77m

These are 7 day timeshifted ratings - I am thinking not all viewers will stick with the show from series 1, will it attracts any new viewers? If Spooks rates 5m+ then Downton Abbey could be hit - yes it will timeshift well. I will be more than surprised if it rates above 10m in the officals in 8 days time. I am expecting an overnight in the morning of around 8.9m maximum (foolishly I went 7.9m in the RPG but with some hindsight!)

This isn't just the overnight ratings thread (well it seems to be at times) but it is the officials that matter at the end of the day - except for ITV shareholders who must cherish every decent rating they can get.
Last edited by grahamzxy : 19-09-2011 at 01:17

You're missing 2 episodes. Downton Abbey ran for 8 weeks.

ive gone for a nice round 9 million, and Spooks ive gone for 7.2 million.

One of those is going to be way out

I edited but on checking BARB was only a 7 week run - was the start or end a double episode?

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showt...354296&page=27

Series 1 of Downton Abbey was 7 episodes. Episodes 1 and 7 were in a 90-minute slot, while episodes 2-6 were in a 60-minute slot. If the S1 finale ratings are any indication, the S2 premiere overnights could very well be over 10 million.