I hope that if Russell Grant has to pull out it doesn't leave Strictly facing the farce of a 2 couple final.

Maybe they could just air the final a week earlier?

I think it was Morph who posted past SCD and XF figures. The reason why some of the SCD Saturday results shows' figures are missing is because they were too short for the BARB 15-minute rule, on Remembrance weekends.

A rule which was subsequently forgotten for some of ITV's pop music video premieres, and has since been changed to a 5-minute rule.

I think they have an extra contestant in case someone pulls out, and if he does pull out they'll just have to scrap the double elimination they do towards the end of the series (last year it was in the semi final).

Is TXF the number one show on TV still though? My friend is convinced that because SCD beat TXF for the first time in 3 years or so, that SCD is the most watched show on TV. Surely it goes by the average of a programme?

I'm the other way round - I was excited by the casting but have been underwhelmed by what's happened since. Maybe others are too considering it's suffered a drop on last year, though at least it's actually gathering momentum instead of leaking viewers.

Amazing ratings for SCD, is that a season high percentage share? TXF is lower than anyone expected - not often it drops into <40% share territory. Merlin held up very well, Casualty/TV Burp and Life Stories did okay. Foyle's War out-rating BB and The Xtra Factor. I am guessing BBC1 doesn't often win Saturday night primetime when TXF is being shown.

The ratings tonight will tell us what the number one show on TV at the moment is.

Actually, someone on another forum did say something interesting. If Downton Abbey manages a c10m overnight rating tonight, with its big 2m timeshifts, it could officially end up being the most watched programme of the week if The X Factor doesn't get more viewers than last week. It's very rare that a non-soap/non-reality show ends up being the most watched show in a week, especially outside the Christmas period, but it could potentially happen here.

I would argue The X Factor is still the number one show on TV at the moment; The X Factor timeshifts better than Strictly and the results show tends to perform better than Strictly's - I do wonder how Strictly would do if it was live.

Saying that ITV1 would much prefer The X Factor getting 11m in the overnights and 0.1m via timeshift rather than a good timeshift but weak (relatively speaking) live figure.

I don't think Russell would pull out even with an op (presumably for his knee problem). I'm sure another dancer has taken part after a knee op in the past.

Heart problems are the main thing to cause people to withdraw, such as Jimmy Tarbuck's departure a few years ago.

I think most contestants' knees are shot to beggary by the end of the series, anyway.

Um why will the ratings tonight tell us what the Number 1 program on tv is i don't really understand that?

I wouldn't say that Strictly's rating is fantastic. Yes, it's up on last week but it's still down on last year by around 200,000 and 1.1% share. It looks superb against a tanking X Factor but that's like saying The Celebrity Chase performed brilliantly - when comparing it to Holding Out For A Hero.

One thing X Factor's downturn does mean is that The Royal Wedding may well end up #1 whichever way you put it (ceremony only or full programme until 1:30pm) after all!

Sundays are usually the highest rated day of the week. So the highest rating tonight (in the officials for sure) will most likely end up being the highest rating of the week, hence "Number 1 program on TV" at the moment.

What did the full Program of the wedding get?

Peaked with 26.2m (93.4%) across all channels, programme averages vary for the different channels but BBC had ~13.9m IIRC.

Hmm. I don't think X Factor will get 26.2m for the final

Looking at the BARB Site the BBC final rating was 13.59m I think X Factor might just fall short of that in the overnights but might beat it when the final ratings come out.

Yes I just took a look at last night compared to same weekend 2010

SCD down 200,000
TXF down 1.96m
Life Stories down 0.98m
TV Burp down 0.8m
Casualty up 200,000
Merlin up 60,000

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s104/...s-to-104m.html

Seems like BBC1 is okay, ITV1 is not as steady as it ought be. SCD drop was 10% of the amount TXF was down from last year. Now we are just doing this thread as a pastime - but if we were advertisers and ITV1 were selling us ad spots that are pulling in 15% less viewers in primetime than a year ago - we might expect a 15% deduction is our ad rates.

Merlin's up slightly as well on last year I think. BBC One is definitely performing much better than ITV1 as proven by the shares.

I applaud all broadcasters and programmes that can pull in a decent share with such multichannel opposition. I haven't watched TXF or SCD this year, but maybe nearer the finals I will. It is totally dark now and I expect ratings to be a lot higher tonight. If TXF gets back on track and DA as popular as ever - ITV1 ought win primetime by several per cent.

I think The X Factor needs to match last week's results figure to settle nerves; at least that'll prove a half decent audience is still there for the show and it can be recovered. If the results show continues to dip as well...that'll be an even bigger concern.

While a near 40% share is good in this day and age, for The X Factor it's very disappointing. Everyone expected a dip, I think, but not to this extent.

I do wonder if The X Factor needs to go back to basics, in trying to find talent and not novelty acts. I don't think it helps that the auditions are held in front of a crowd to be honest.

not even 10 million when you include +1, its close but it isnt

ouch X-Factor HAS gone off the boil.

Ok so its still got alot of viewers to loose, but the show has lost viewers.

SCD is doing what it always does, quietly over-performing what people give it credit for.

I Agree. I know i don't make the best of predictions but now it gets dark by 4:30 Tv ratings should be higher at least till febuary now.

But the fact is there are not really any novelty acts in the show. Jonny who was ment to be one can't sing but he can. X Factor was at its highest when acts like John and Edward and Wagner were in the show

But they can only do that so often. People catch on.

They DID try to do it with Johnny and Kitty - unfortunately these are the most incompetent producers ever and much like the film 'The Producers' they ended up being great!

Oh and am still hoping Doctor Who gets best rating for the year with a good Christmas special - spoiler phobes might be aware that it could be great 'trailer-fodder'
Moff is defoes doing 'Christmas Family Film'.
(well it might not happen but it might outrate the X Factor final )

Speaking of which - next year the BBC schedule might get even stronger with Who likely to fit in somewhere. Likely at 6-6:15 before Strictly I suspect.
Afterall this year has shown Strictly is a good solid performer against X Factor. And with X factor likely to move to 8 for all next year - theres room for another 30 minute clash


I wonder how high Strictly will go this year - without a strong X Factor it may not have the viewers in seats as it used to - be interesting to compare the growth week on week with last year should X Factor remain as is.

Downton will likely beat everyone tonight.