It genuinley has surprised me. My Twitter/ Facebook were full of it tonight and it seems personality rather than age/attractiveness has captured most peoples attention. We could be in for a good series at this rate.

Could this veteran reality show be heading for another bumper year. It is amazing that a format which has otherwise virtually died- celebs in a contrived situation- has one massive survivor and it has outlived its imitators.

All of the reality shows have been down this year so I expected I'm A Celebrity.. to follow that pattern. It's very early on, though. Even if it does well tonight, the audience could trickle away.

So a few people on the social networking sites liked it and we've gone from "I don't think it will do that well this year" to "another bumper year on the cards" in the space of a few hours. Okaaaay then. At least both bases are covered now before we get the official verdict.

lol that is one way to look at it. Way I see it this thread wants the big shows to fail, you only need to look at this years X-Factor to see that.

Every year we say the show is past its best, and will probably tail off this year, ratings come in and (for reasons I cant fathom) they are as good as previous years if not better.

The day X-Factor is axed, will be the day certain posters on this thread experience something equivalent of an orgasm.

I think you underestimate ITV's popularity on this thread.

ok so the people on this thread who dont like ITV makes those claims, whilst the other half jumped on Twitter feedback as proof otherwise.

Something like that. All I know on this subject from recent channel hopping is Laura Whitmore won't be winning any presenting awards any time soon. (!)

DSRPG average prediction by the way for IAC is 10.0m (excluding +1). I think, give or take about 300,000, that will be very close to the actual figure. I don't really know in hindsight why I went so high. It's not exactly been a bumper season for ITV, so I doubt IAC will buck the trend.

For all the popularity on here there's plenty of negativity towards the broadcaster as well. And I did say 'even if' it does well, as I still expect it to be down on last year, like every other reality show is...though I do know I said 'expected' instead 'expect'.

Thanks!

Merlin chart. Week 7 will be close.

I remember being confused by that argument being made at the start of the live shows - which were pretty similar in 2009 and 2010. I think comparisons are reasonable provided there's some kind of context. 2009 and 2010 were unbelievable years for X Factor or any TV show so some kind of decline was only to be expected (although it was widely expected last year!) especially with Cowell and Cole leaving. Obviously the fact that the live shows are tending to be down nearly 20% just now is a bigger drop than would have been hoped for and suggests something hasn't worked this year.

The positive argument is that the ratings are still insanely good, even for The X Factor. That list of 18-49 ratings shows it from a commercial standpoint. The fact that Strictly winning a single night got such a reaction shows how exceptionally X Factor has rated for the past few years considering Strictly once had the lead. In 2007 (or even 2008) I doubt you'd have got many people predicting the kind of ratings it has now. People forget that Pop Idol and X Factor 1-4 were still seen as a big deal, despite rating lower than the current series in a time when ratings were generally a lot higher. The only comparison I can think of is American Idol, and it has survived a similar season with similar declines and come back from it. Also, some of the soaps seem to be way off last years pace judging by those Friday y-o-y comparisons and not having such a big deal made.

Like Idol, they can take this decline once. Long term, 20% declines (and this series still won't end up that bad) can't be sustained. They need to work something out for next year to try and stabilise things a bit.

Looking forward to the IAC overnight - will it make 10m? SCD ought beat it easily, TXF bound to be a series high.

I think people are guessing to low for I'm A Celeb. First episode will likely be around 10m I'd say. Its audience is more likely to be X Factor viewers and they'll stick around in higher numbers than they did for Downton.

For the same evening last year a lot of TXF viewers decided not to watch IAC. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s100/...with-112m.html

Overnight in from last night:

X Factor Results: 12.49m (41.87%) , +1: 166k (0.59%)
* Peak 14.56m (47.02%)

Source: Michael Rosser

Biggest launch ever for 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here':

I'm a Celebrity: 11.49m (42.35%) , +1: 265k (1.47%)
* peak 12.55m (44%)

I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here opening overnight ratings
Series 1 (2002): 6.4m (33%)
Series 2 (2003): 10.0m (46%)
Series 3 (2004): 10.1m (n/a%)
Series 4 (2004): 9.0m (35%)
Series 5 (2005): 9.5m (38%)
Series 6 (2006): 8.9m (38%)
Series 7 (2007): 8.7m (38%)
Series 8 (2008): 8.9m (35%)
Series 9 (2009): 9.8m (36%)
Series 10 (2010): 11.2m (38%)

That is 2.02m down year on year, and almost a 6% drop in viewing share.



That is an impressive rating for IAC, seems the TXF viewers stayed tuned all evening. Up by around 260k on 2010 and 4% increase of viewing share.

And another rating in from last night:

Strictly Come Dancing: 10.7m (38.92%)
* peak 11.29m (39.96%)

Source: Michael Rosser

wow - it has certainly defied the predictions of its demise for another year.

Ah yes but as I said more people than stuck around for Downton. As big as Downton is I'm A Celeb is a better fit for the post X Factor slot. Audiences are more similar.

Oh look. I told you. People saying 8-9m were ridiculously low. It follows The X Factor results show and it's the launch show. I'm A Celeb was going to get double digit millions.

A decent rating but that means SCD finishes 3rd in the overnights. SCD is however up 150k from 2010, and a more than 2.5% viewing share increase.

Two things are certain each year with I'm A Celebrity.

1. You'll get the jokes about them not being celebrities.
2. Each year people will say it can't continue.

Garrow's Law returned with 4.9m last night.

Last year's series opener had 5.4m in the overnights.

Source: Liam Hamilton

Yes IAC has maintained its 2010 audience, which is highly commendable, beating SCD was a bonus for ITV1 - it will likely drop off this week though - especially on Wednesday versus Frozen Planet & Friday against Children in Need.