As I recall - and according to the press - something like this was a factor alongside pressure about giving an unfair edge to the consequently heavily promoted West End shows above less favoured non televised productions.

ALW said something about it being hard to do it with the BBC without conflicting with their unique requirements.

Perhaps the BBC would only let Graham Norton appear on screen and say 'You could be Jesus' if Andrew agreed to cast Allah, Mohammed and Satan as well so as to provide 'balance'.

Or maybe it was the plan to cast this show for an arena tour rather than the West End that did not gell with BBC ethics - though they have no issue with the Strictly arena tour each year so that seems unlikely.

Given the attached quotes to that story, I'd be very surprised if it wasn't true ...

I predict the return of Dominic Treadwell-Collins.

I think it's more likely that Beeb execs have quite rightfully realised that casting Jesus is going to be a big turn-off.

It all seems a bit tasteless to me. Anyone who's not offended will hear the word "Jesus" and avoid it like the plague as it's vaguely religious.This show is only going to appeal to hardcore musical theatre addicts.

The Lord was insistent that this would be his next musical project, so it was either this or nothing for the BBC. These shows have always been moderately successful but never achieved astonishing ratings, so it's probably just not worth the hassle.

Oh it's definitely true. He gave a talk to the cast a few moments ago according to reports on Twitter by Leigh Holmwood. I think they looked at the ratings and said leave. For all the awards during his tenure my EastEnders viewing friends say the show has lost its way and ratings are low compared to Corrie. Could be what the show needs.

having had a look around I am pleased to believe that this is true.

I am over joyed to hear this news, finally the BBC has recognised that Bryan Kirkwoods work is below par and quite frankly inadequate. I welcome the new producer with open arms, and look forward to seeing what s/he has planned for the show.

Apparently the BBC did not regard Jesus (albeit in a musical) a suitable subject for a light entertainment programme. They were perfectly happy with the previous co-operation with the good Lord.

Red or Black? has been recommissioned officially... http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press...2/default.html

Some changes to the format:[LIST][*]The show will be airing weekly.[*]The prize money starts at £500,000.[*]The prize money rolls over if it's not won - reaching a total of £3.5m (so 7 shows?).[/LIST]
Ant & Dec are confirmed to return as hosts. The show airs later this year. Maybe they'll use it as an X Factor companion show before I'm a Celebrity airs? I doubt they'll use it over the Summer as there's BGT and then the Olympics etc. to contend with.

Red of Black? series 2, well that is the best laugh ill have all week.

Oh dear... A new dating show is in development which blends the singing contest and the dating show:

I can't believe Red Or Black is coming back

It was only a matter of time before Bryan Kirkwood left EastEnders. The writing was on the wall the second that article about alleged behind the scenes disagreements between him and John Yorke appeared in The Sun newspaper.

Just reading the notes to editors from the Red or Black? press release and noticed a couple of questionable claims:


Not strictly true... what about Strictly? Wasn't that ahead for a few years before The X Factor surpassed it?


Sneaky Syco, Robbie will have a fit!

ITV just make good programmes and concentrate on profits, stop massaging your own and other peoples egos.
R/B made a LOSS. Fact.

Now go plan how to ruin BBC One's day forgetting that Danny Cohen is overall doing a competent job with some hits here and there. As oppose to shouting and basically being a bit of a media whore at the financial cost of his channel.

Least this thread will be more fun. Q1 has been dull outside of Sundays. Incredibly so.

Nothing amazing on BARB this week, can see Channel 4 is taking a big lead over Channel 5, even though 5 are beating 4 alot more in primetime...

Bryan Kirkwood is no loss, couple of good choices but overall he's slipped a new fresh EP with a bit of a shake up is just what the show needs fresh characters and old favourites at the fore front and deadwood gone...

And R or B is back, but the changes to the format could be enough to make the show bareable, the weekly format is a better idea, as 6/7 million post xfactor (if that is its destination) is not to be sniffed at...

Of course Red Or Black is coming back. ITV can't afford to p*ss off Cowell, can it?

Given that John Yorke still behaves as if he is the story editor on E/E, any executive producer on that show needs to have a rhino's hide to cope with the scrutiny they are placed under, especially as Yorke's sidekick, Lorraine Newman, is constantly in the wings as series producer ... It's a poisoned chalice and will remain so as long as Yorke is at the BBC. And that's where the real change is needed.

Sunday 11th March 2012
BBC One
19:00 - Countryfile: 6.31m (25.6%)
20:00 - Antiques Roadshow: 6.28m (22.3%)
21:00 - Upstairs, Downstairs: 4.77m (17.9%)

BBC Two
20:00 - Top Gear: 5.05m (17.9%)
21:00 - Orbit: 2.78m (10.5%)
22:00 - Match of the Day 2: 3.21m (18.1%)

ITV1
18:40 - Harry Hill's TV Burp: 3.68m (17.0%)
* +1: 174k (0.6%)
19:15 - Dancing on Ice: 7.22m (27.4%)
* +1: 255k (0.9%)
20:30 - Wild at Heart: 6.38m (23.0%)
* +1: 187k (0.8%)
21:30 - Dancing on Ice: 6.14m (23.4%)
* +1: 162k (1.0%)

Channel 4
20:00 - Time Team: 894k (3.2%)
* +1: 226k (0.9%)
21:00 - Homeland: 2.01m (7.6%)
* +1: 271k (1.5%)

Channel 5
18:20 - FILM: Men in Black II: 1.60m (7.0%)
* +1: 135k (0.5%)
20:00 - Body Squad: 695k (2.5%)
21:00 - FILM: Layercake: 1.01m (4.6%)

BBC Three
21:00 - Being Human: 783k (2.9%)

E4
21:00 - Desperate Housewives: 646k (2.4%)

ITV2
21:00 - Benidorm: 569k (2.1%)
* +1: 188k (1.0%)

More4
21:00 - Crufts 2012: 661k (2.6%)

Primetime Shares
ITV1 - 21.2% (+1: 0.8%)
BBC One - 20.6%
BBC Two - 11.9%
Channel 5 - 4.7% (+1: 0.3%)
Channel 4 - 4.5% (+1: 0.8%)

Source: DS. Ratings include HD and are tape-checked where necessary.

So do you think John Yorke has pushed Bryan Kirkwood out then?

I can't believe Red or Black is coming back. Is this the same Red or Black that got beaten by a episode of Watchdog.

Also i spoke to someone at ITV and they comfirmed to me that BGT will start on 24th. I'm surprised by this because we haven't seen an advert. So if this is true i wonder when we will

Who cares? The new producer needs to be incredibly smart, recognise what made EastEnders great and try and restore it.

The state it's in, whoever's taking over from Kirkwood will have their work cut out. It'll take an astonishing producer to reverse the rot that's set so far in now.

Most Watched Shows of 2012 [Top 20 - Officials]
01 - 12.20m - CORONATION STREET (23/01/12) - ITV1/HD
02 - 11.41m - CALL THE MIDWIFE (19/02/12) - BBC1/HD
03 - 10.98m - EASTENDERS (02/01/12) - BBC1/HD
04 - 10.66m - SHERLOCK (01/01/12) - BBC1/HD
05 - 9.29m - DANCING ON ICE (08/01/12) - ITV1/HD

06 - 9.11m - EMMERDALE (05/01/12) - ITV1/HD
07 - 8.31m - MRS BROWN'S BOYS (04/02/12) - BBC1/HD
08 - 8.00m - WILD AT HEART (08/01/12) - ITV1/HD
09 - 7.97m - ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS (01/01/12) - BBC1/HD
10 - 7.87m - UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS (19/02/12) - BBC1/HD

11 - 7.86m - ENDEAVOUR (02/01/12) - ITV1/HD
12 - 7.59m - COUNTRYFILE (05/02/12) - BBC1/HD
13 - 7.32m - ABOVE SUSPICION (09/01/12) - ITV1/HD
14 - 7.23m - BENIDORM (24/02/12) - ITV1/HD
15 - 7.12m - THE DIAMOND QUEEN (06/02/12) - BBC1/HD

16 - 7.01m - ANTIQUES ROADSHOW (19/01/12) - BBC1/HD
17 - 7.01m - BIRDSONG (22/01/12) - BBC1/HD
18 - 6.99m - CASUALTY (07/01/12) - BBC1/HD
19 - 6.91m - MIDSOMER MURDERS (01/02/11) - ITV1/HD
20 - 6.93m - WHITECHAPEL (30/01/12) - ITV1/HD

Most Watched Multichannel Shows of 2011 [Top 20 - Officials]
01 - 2.85m - LIVE FORD SUPER SUNDAY (05/02/12) - Sky Sports 1
02 - 2.74m - CELEBRITY JUICE (09/02/12) - ITV2
03 - 2.16m - TREASURE ISLAND (01/01/12) - Sky1
04 - 1.96m - LIVE FORD FOOTBALL SPECIAL (11/02/12) - Sky Sports 1
05 - 1.68m - LIVE CARLING CUP FOOTBALL (25/01/12) - Sky Sports 1

06 - 1.68m - MAD DOGS (19/01/12) - Sky1
07 - 1.67m - LIVE FORD MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (06/02/12) - Sky Sorts 1
08 - 1.53m - THE ONLY WAY IS ESSEX (29/02/12) - ITV2
09 - 1.47m - FOYLE'S WAR (21/01/12) - ITV3
10 - 1.42m - STELLA (06/01/12) - Sky1

11 - 1.42m - SUN, SEX AND SUSPICIOUS PARENTS (22/02/12) - BBC3
12 - 1.42m - EASTENDERS (16/02/12) - BBC3
13 - 1.34m - DOC MARTIN (21/01/12) - ITV3
14 - 1.30m - HAWAII FIVE-0 (22/01/12) - Sky1
15 - 1.27m - JUNIOR DOCTORS: YOUR LIFE IN THEIR HANDS (07/02/12) - BBC3

16 - 1.26m - GOT TO DANCE (29/01/12) - Sky1
17 - 1.25m - THE BIG BANG THEORY (05/01/12) - E4
18 - 1.24m - SPARTACUS VENGEANCE (31/01/12) - Sky1
19 - 1.23m - BEING HUMAN (05/02/12) - BBC3/HD
20 - 1.18m - DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (26/02/12) - E4

Source: BARB. Excludes +1, Includes HD for Terrestrial Chart. Only 1 programme per 'show', i.e. only one Ford Super Sunday game.

Only change is that TOWIE unfortunately recorded a series high, moving into the Top 10 for the multichannel chart.

Maybe thats why they have no fixed replacement yet as they can't find anyone who is willing to clean up the mess.

I think the production team needs a complete clear out myself. Then they need to cut the writers from whatever number it is at now to about 15. There are just too many different writers working on the show. The script editors are terrible at their job because continuity is a mess. This is without having to sort out which cast members to keep on during a refresh. It is going to be a tough job for whoever takes it on and it makes me wonder why the BBC allowed it to get into this state in the first place.

They should have listened to viewers who were complaining a year back.

I remember reading an interview with, I think it was, Louise Berridge and she implied that everything had to go through Yorke first, she even implied that she was forced to axe characters she didn't even want to axe!

Frankly he sounds like a pain in the a*se!

If he is that bad why hasn't anyone complained about him? could the BBC Trust not step in?

It sounds like it must be terrible working like that.

I dont buy this, all that is need is an exec producer with a bit of vision.

The show only needs to loose about 6 member's of the cast, and give the rest better storylines.

There are few long term storylines on EastEnders at the moment, and most can be wrapped up fairly quickly

The truth is that for the most part Kirkwood has a good cast, he just couldn't use them well enough.

That said a few good writers is the biggest change that is needed. Look at how poorly Tanyas cancer storyline has been written over all, that is where change is needed.

his take on Kat and Alife, has totally ruined the characters, and has done the impossible, by making Alife more likeable than Kat.;

I find it hard to believe he hasn't. Kirkwood isn't going onto another show/project - he's just leaving. It's not like he's been poached by another show.

EastEnders' story producer is also leaving - another telling sign that there is trouble behind the scenes.

The problem isn't just who they hire to do the EP job: it's Yorke, who has been at the BBC for far too long and spends too much time micro-managing. Kirkwood is blamed for certain things - but they are all things Yorke himself will have signed off. So while it's Kirkwood in the crosshairs when people are complaining, he isn't in the one with ultimate reponsibility ...

How do you know this?