It's bad enough ranking well behind Norton, and also coming behind The Lakes and a Ronnies filler repeat, but to be trounced by Norton head to head would be a humiliation too far. They were well advised to keep him out of Norton's path.

I stand corrected. At least BBC One learnt from this and hasn't tried a one-star format again in primetime. Justin Bieber special anyone?

I noticed that the continuity announcer trailed it as including Fork Handles over the EE credits, as did the Radio Times. Might have helped.

Which featured Sir David Jason, and trailed as such. He was on good form too - a good show I thought.

He confirmed that The Royal Bodyguard is "pure Clouseau" with a bit of Mr Bean thrown in.

He was clearly nervous about whether viewers would take to it, which I think is down to him being a naturally shy and self-effacing chap himself. But he, at least, genuinely thinks it's a winner.

With all the ratings in for it now, Death in Paradise had a consolidated series average of 5.89m for BBC1. That's BBC1's most watched new 6+ hour drama series since 2008.

Here's a quick look at the averages for new 6+ hour dramas this year:

1 - 7.36m - Scott & Bailey (ITV1)
2 - 6.35m - Vera (ITV1)
3 - 5.89m - Death in Paradise (BBC1)
4 - 5.85m - Silk (BBC1)
5 - 5.58m - The Body Farm (BBC1)
6 - 5.45m - Monroe (ITV1)
7 - 5.30m - Case Histories (BBC1)
8 - 3.29m - Outcasts (BBC1)

These 6+ hour dramas are the ones both BBC1 and ITV1 really need coming through making an impact to become solid returnable shows of the schedule year after year. More important than the 3-parters.

When you look at Death In Paradise's perfromance there the BBC would be mad not to bring it back. And had it not been for some tough timeslots the average would have been even higher.

The bigger question is whether the broadcast partners deemed it a success in their territories and will be prepared to stump up the cash second time round. Do we know how it rated elsewhere?

I could be wrong, but according to this, if my French is correct, it won't be shown in France until 2012. So it could be quite a long while before we hear any recommissioning news, if the BBC are going to wait till the series airs abroad. I guess that means the next series, should there be one, might not air until 2013.

Didn't BBC1 screen DIP earlier than they originally intended?

Who owns the rights? That'll decide I think as the Beeb could recommission and then sell to the same channel. These co-productions are mostly beneficial for the first series where you need to get a show off the ground. After that their 'added bonuses'.

According to Paul Brassey on Twitter, Pointless had 4.4m yesterday. A new record iirc.

So that's another programme that beat Jonathan Ross in yesterday's ratings.

Yes, originally it was expected to TX during the winter, but it seemed that someone decided that the Drama cupboard looked a little bare during the late Autumn and it was quickly turned around for an early showing.

As we've discussed, it's a bit of a transitional time for BBC Drama/Whimsy, old favourites have come/are coming to the end of their life, and with continual budget pressures, a series which as got that sort of rating, will surely return, but the fact it's a six month shoot, on the other side of the Atlantic, may mean it's not until later on.

Some Actors complain about having to spend months in the North, away from family, it's a different kettle of fish when your thousands of mile away..

Impressive that the Miranda repeat matched the ratings it got last Christmas on BBC Two, I expect the third series will get around 5-6m. Also great ratings for Channel 5 with Morecambe and Wise cracking 2m including plus one, think Tommy Cooper would have done better scheduled at 8pm rather than 10pm,

A bit of a shame we have not got full all day listings this christmas so far, but hopefully we will for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day?

ITV didn't poach Ross from the BBC. He was no longer employed by the BBC as you well know.

Indeed the unusual Christmas ratings period seems to have finally started.

EE beats Corrie on a Friday probably for the first time all year, also unusual is how the 2nd Corrie beat the 1st one even though the 2nd one finished about 5 mins early.

Also the 9pm hour performing better than usual. Your under predicting based on the ratings earlier this week doesn't seem likely to actually happen.

We'll get a full roundup of Christmas Day ratings about 9:45am on Boxing Day.

I didn't know that.


And they were right. BBC1 was weak ratings wise with several of their Autumn dramas. They needed Death In Paradise.

Bit of a waste for Nativity! A festive film featuring a host of big name British actors tucked away on BBC2 in a no man's slot. Cant help but think it could have got 3 times that in a half decent slot on BBC1.

Top 15 Overnights (Monday to Friday)
01 - 9.0m - Coronation Street (Mon, ITV1)
02 - 8.8m - EastEnders (Mon, BBC1)
03 - 8.7m - EastEnders (Tue, BBC1)
04 - 8.4m - EastEnders (Thu, BBC1)
05 - 8.3m - EastEnders (Fri, BBC1)

06 - 8.1m - Coronation Street (Fri, ITV1, 20:30)
07 - 8.0m - Coronation Street (Fri, ITV1, 19:30)
08 - 7.8m - Coronation Street (Thu, ITV1)
09 - 7.5m - Emmerdale (Mon, ITV1)
10 - 7.4m - Emmerdale (Thu, ITV1)

11 - 7.2m - Emmerdale (Wed, ITV1)
12 - 7.0m - Emmerdale (Thu, ITV1, 19:00)
13 - 7.0m - BBC Regional News (Mon, BBC1, 18:30)
14 - 7.0m - Emmerdale (Tue, ITV1)
15 - 6.8m - Emmerdale (Fri, ITV1)

Ratings include HD but exclude +1.

I hope we can get some shows over 10m on Christmas Day, but I think Doctor Who may be the only realistic chance of that happening.

A good night for BBC One considering there was an hour of repeats thrown into that mix. HIGNFY has found it's feet a little more over the past few weeks after some concerning numbers earlier in the run. The lack of a decent 9pm partner can't have helped and Miranda served admirably in that role last night. A very impressive repeat figure and all the signs are good that the new series should go on to become on of the channel's biggest comedies when it arrives later next year.

Also, a terrific rating for Graham Norton who reeled in a great pre-Christmas boost. A bit of an embarrassing result for Jonathan Ross considering it's so easy to compare the two shows. Not a massive surprise though, I guess - there's plenty of precedents for chat shows struggling at 9pm.

And they stuck the other BBC Film Tamara Drewe at 10.30pm.

Both these BBC Films were true premieres, not having been on Sky Movies. Why do they give them such bad slots?

Another BBC Film, Made in Dagenham is currently on Sky Movies, I expect another year 'til it gets to BBC Two, no doubt in a silly slot!!

And another repeat as well - 3 BBC1 repeats beating his flagship slot, Downton-enhanced, Corrie-crutched show!

Oh dear....




Agree. Sorry to keep banging on about it, but it was the one scheduling boo-boo that stood out in the confirmed schedules, and I remain utterly mystified by it. Must have been a cock up with the scheduling software they were showing off on the BBC website earlier in the week.

They were going through on the radio earlier what you can put bets on for 2012 predictions - one of which I found interesting: 10/1 - Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley to return to BBC.