So where it matters then


If they went for a combined show (which I agree seems unlikely now the show has proven successful) then it wouldn't be the same structure as the combined Strictly show. The vote would take place over the week with acts being eliminated on the next live show. The alternating between different coaches teams structure of the live shows allows that. So they wouldn't have to find 15-30 minutes filler whilst the vote lines were open and votes counted etc.

I think that works well but I've given up hope of it happening.

This thread usually discusses viewing figures not ratings, just clarifying in case anyone tries to make any links to the performance of TVUK

Nah I think if they went for a combined show they'd still have the eliminations on the same night as performances - leaving a week is a really clunky way of doing it that would be very unpopular over here. I can see why they had to do it in the US and they're more used to it there (I still don't like it though) but I definitely think they should avoid doing that.

Not that it matters though as I doubt they'll do a combined show at all.

Lorraine at 8.30am had 1.1 million. The sooner she gets to front the show, the better. It might be the only way to save Daybreak now.

This thread seems to have become a BGT V the Voice one. You would think that they are the only shows in town

Yeah, that's right. I remember watching the first edition of that 1986 series, and Noel said it would be on every week until the spring.

Don't forget The People's Quiz which rated so badly, The National Lottery wanted nothing to do with them and pulled the branding half way through the series.

Lorraine is getting 1.1m even while Lorraine has been off for weeks recovering from a horse riding accident. Much like Breakfast it seems a shows reputation can have amazing viewer loyalty no matter who is hosting it. As for BGT & The Voice ratings wise they ARE the only shows in town!

A few points...

1) The main reasons that Lorraine regularly scores a higher average are: it's shorter, and it's on at a time when more viewers are around. The difference in terms of audience share (18% v 17.1%) isn't that great.
2) Lorraine's show was presented by Helen Fospero yesterday.

They should've kept a 15 minute clash. In a 75 minute show it's nothing and with the same ad break pattern of 31st March (start dead at 8.15pm; no break until 8.30pm) it should be enough to keep it ahead of The Voice without making Britain's Got Talent look pathetically weak - which is how it looks now. Yes, the ratings look ok for the moment but we'll see what happens on Saturday now The Voice is the scheduling king of Saturday night.


Against The Voice you mean? People are already (understandably) prophesising the collapse of The Cube; what would Take Me Out have done opposite it? Down to 3m at the very least, probably. Instead, Britain's Got Talent maintained around 6m viewers and Take Me Out stayed above the 4m mark.

Don't want to put a dampener on things, but one is from the creators of The Royal Bodyguard.

They're actually good writers, though. They just direct their scripts to death.

Lorraine always gets around the one million mark plus when she is on anyway and people also like Helen it seems so she should continue to cover when Lorraine is off. Also, Lorraine has maintained a good audience since the beginning and she does seem to have a following. I am not a fan though. I take your first point.

The fact that Lorraine's stand-in is bringing in about as many viewers as Lorraine does not really support your argument that she could turn things around at Daybreak.

Bodes well!

The sad thing is Phil is possibly the only person who cares very much about what happens in The Cube.

It seems a bit Alan Partridge to me.

I disagree. Lorraine has built this show and has a steady audience of 1 million plus. It is called after her and is technically her show and her audience will stay loyal to it until she returns. However, I do think they will have to improve the content of Daybreak as well.

Let's hope they hire another director.

Either way 8.30pm is going to be a disaster zone for ITV1. Emmerdale appears to offer little in way of lead in at 8pm - Coronation Street is consistently down compared to Monday and Friday's - and the comedies are going to be swallowed up by the 60 minute show on BBC One. They'd be better off scheduling it in one of the Coronation Street sandwiches opposite EastEnders in my opinion - there would be less expectation and a better lead in and lead out.

Why don;t they rename it the Phil Schofield Show as this is all This Morning has become? Anyone got any ratings for The Wright Stuff as this is a vastly better and fresher show.

Yep. I gave up this week

It's ITV's scheduling incompetence that caused this mess. The first 20 minutes dragged BGT's average down and still would have meant it would have less viewers during a clash. It's still enough to dent it and has been for several weeks

The Cube tends to do better when it follows a popular show. Not sure it'll do well at all against The Voice.

I'd put it on Saturday night after The X Factor myself. Its the best launch pad they have and would give them an excuse to push Ross back half an hour into a more comfortable and familiar slot.

I know I sound harsh, but it was incredibly frustrating watching what had the potential to be great sight gags (in The Royal Bodyguard) not working well on screen.
It will be interesting to see if BBC One carries on with hour-long programmes on Thursdays at 8pm. I could understand Watchdog continuing as it is, but a lot of the other hour-long shows haven't been very inspiring.

The schedule wasn't a disaster for ITV1, really. It was the ad placement that strangled Britain's Got Talent last Saturday. But Take Me Out wasn't a complete flop in the later slot and Family Fortunes did ok for ITV filler.


No; that's why I think they should've gone with Britain's Got Talent at 8.15pm and The Cube at 9.30pm. 10.30pm may be a late finish but it's not overly late considering it's a Saturday night.

Ahh yes I remember that it had a very long run too, it had a BBC2 daily spin off too iirc.

There was also Guestimation [the other Nick Knowles lottery show] which also flopped.

The second series of 'Come and Have a go (if you think you're smart enough)?'' adopted the lottery branding but it failed to boost it.

I think it makes more sense for BBC One to air hour long shows at 8pm rather than trying to go head to head with Emmerdale, then head to head with whatever show gets the Emmerdale lead in. I'm not sure what the channel's budget is like in terms of the 9pm slot but there's no reason content wise why the likes of Who Do You Think You Are? and Masterchef can't air at 8pm really.