Watched X-Factor(UK) for the first time this series and what a dreary irony-free show it's become.

I'm sure in it's hey-day it at least was camp fun.

Why is it holding up ratings-wise?, it's junk.

Merlin will creep a little earlier presumably due to the shorter SCD shows but I think they should certainly stick with SCD starting between 6-6:30 and Merlin when it finishes because it's a solid formula.

The Silly thing is with all this Agruing people are forgetting about the channel of the night and IMO That's BBC 2

What else is there to do on a cold Saturday/Sunday night. Strictly and X Factor are perfect programs for the time of year.

I can't help but feel underwhelmed with TXF's ratings, but considering there's a clash, it's a good. I think having it for too long harmed its ratings, as well as the clash with SCD. As regards to the 796k from Xtra Factor, that's really quite poor retention. The only comparison I can think of is EastEnders Live and the Aftermath show on BBC3 (16m to 4m, much better retention), as well as the BB comparison. Again, maybe if TXF was only a hour or 75 mins, Xtra Factor may have rated better. To follow up 2.5 hous of X Factor with Xtra Factor would be too much for a lot of people.

Whatever happened to brilliant weekend drama like Casualty or London's Burning, which regularly pulled 13 million, even towards the late 90's?

it was on for two long. I Think last years Judges Houses got 14m and first Live show got 12.2m thats a drop of about 2m it tells you that people don't want to watch such a long show if it can drop that much.

Well the good thing this year is the 2nd show is shorter unlike last year.

Also Robbie I meant that the 4 people leave today and you find out today. Last year you found out the WC on the saturday show.

In theory though shouldn't big live event shows like The X Factor be relatively free of the timeshift effect? I can understand people perhaps timeshifting the same day (especially last night with the Strictly clash) but to me it doesn't feel like a show you record and watch later in the week.

Times have changed haven't they. Seems more people a interested in reality shows now. But you can't beat a good drama can you.

Well we know ITV are experts in overkill.

Exactly. I do miss the days when Casualty would get some great ratings. It still shocks me to realise that it was still getting 9 million in 2004/05.

I think the second episode of Merlin had 4.99m last year, but I'm not sure this includes HD.

If people on The X Factor forum hate the twist then ratings will probably be up tonight. Online in general (and particularly DS) is never a good indicator. With X Factor, people love to be outraged.

As far as first live shows go, I thought it was pretty good. But even with Sky+ it's still a marathon with 16 acts and inevitably some of them are dull. No doubt the ratings will have fluctuated as the show progressed with people checking in and out.

Talent-wise, it's decent enough. There are some interesting ones in there as well. If they punt out Jonjo, Nu Vibe, Sophie and James then I think they'll actually have a pretty good, interesting top 12. Although there's a chance they'll want a shock in the girls category.

The new judges didn't quite hit the ground runing for me. Kelly was mildly amusing in parts but over bearing at times. Gary played it a bit too straight - he could do with relaxing just a touch. Tulisa waffled a bit much, couldn't be bothered with all that "representing girls" nonsense and she used the word "energy" too much. She looked great to be fair although she and Kelly don't quite match the Cheryl/Dannii glamour from last year. But when Louis Walsh told a pub singer that she was "the next big diva from Wales", I knew everything would be alright. Dermot seemed to be on good form as well, quite relaxed.

I think ITV should really shift it to 8pm. I can't see it rating lower anyway, it'd most likely give it a decent boost. And Wossy isn't doing much in the 10pm slot. Ratings wise it seems to be what most expected. Now it's all about what kind of hype the finalists and judges can generate compared to last year. A bit off for Harry Hill as well, surprised to see that. Seems OK for Strictly, not sure how that compares to previous years?

True. Thing is as Glenn says if they don't overkill it too much then it could go on for another 15 years like Opportunity Knocks. Where will TV be in another 15 years is a scary thought. I Hope it's not filled with Reality programs

As i think PJMiller says Strictly Shouldn't begin till 6:00 and X Factor Shouldn't begin till 8:00

The quality of conversation in the ratings thread appears to be going downhill rather quickly. There's been some incredibly banal posts this weekend.

Anyhow better for Ross last night, the Gaga factor helping I'm sure. It will be interesting to see it up against MOTD next week.

Also, caught Ask Rhod Gilbert last night for the first time, a funny little show indeed and wasted in it's current slot where no one notices it. Saying that as good as it is I'm not sure it would be a success in primetime, given the Would I Lie to You? ratings. And sadly with DQF wanting to rid the BBC of this sort of thing it might disappear sooner rather than later.

True, but a lot of shows have been damaged by overkill in general. Coronation Street, Emmerdale, EastEnders could all do with getting rid of an episode a week. Casualty was wrecked by overkill after expanding its episode count from 24 to 48 in the space of 8 years, and so was Holby City. BB on Channel 4 suffered massive overkill, and right now, TXF must be careful not to go down the same route, because the thought of sitting for 2.5 hours watching it bored me.

It might do well at 10pm on BBC2 on Thursdays.

It Bored me to. As you say ITV/Syco have to be careful with X Factor. Without X Factor and Britain's got Talent where would ITV Be. They haven't got any programs to replace them with yet.

Another pro-ITV ratings piece on the main site from PJ - headlining on TV Burp's return, as if that's the big ratings story from last night....

I've posted the following comment, be interesting to see if he addresses these points:



Be a shame if it did. It built slowly on Monday nights last year and was getting well over 2m viewers a week IIRC. Dumping it on Wednesdays after the lotto draw was a mistake. Hope the Saturday repeat last night helped it find new viewers. It's crazy that CFWM repeats are filling Norton's slot (oo-er, missus...) in his absence when there is a perfect fun entertainment show being underwatched on Wednesdays.

I do think this show could work in primetime, and the Beeb aren't exploiting it - and DQF will give them the perfect excuse to axe on the grounds of "low impact".

Yes that rating roundup is a bit Silly. It Say's that Strictly has not been matching last year well that's the same with X Factor. And the Big Ratings story should be a rating from BBC 2

I saw a bit of it and would tend to agree with you. Its trying to be The Voice but this is ITV and not the BBC. Bring back the panto elements and the judges personal disputes and lets have less of this singing contest stuff. Down with all this earnestness.

He should never go up agaist MOTD in an ideal world as it will severely dent his ratings. Another reason why ITV needs to start X Factor early

Depends how much they care about the outcome, I suppose. I have never voted on the XFactor and therefore don't care about watching it live. If I'm going to see it, it'll be on repeat later in the week.

I mean, how many individuals actually vote? They're the only ones who need to watch the live shows.