That's what I'm thinking as well, Mr Selfridge would be pretty set up there at 9pm with a strong lead-in from DOI and 8-9m CTM viewers looking for something to watch. Could be a peach of a slot for it.

I don't think WAH should be axed though as it could go on Wednesdays at 8pm, but I get the impression that ITV want to move on from it (especially since all the other cosy-but-rubbish Sunday 8pm dramas are now gone).

They could easily move Downton to Monday nights - though I think Selfridge would work better there thinking about it, with Downton remaining where it is. I suppose the risk is having two headline dramas competiting for attention.

It's easy to say ITV shouldn't run scared but they're going to suffer a drubbing this year ratings wise so the last thing they'll want to do is expose their next big hope to what will be a pretty strong BBC One schedule appealing to a similar audience - especially if they do combine the performance show and results show of Dancing On Ice which'll result in a dip after the final performance.

EDIT: Just seen the clarification. To be honest, I think they should air Selfridge in the cushier Monday night slot with a stronger Coronation Street lead in than on a Sunday night IF they combine Dancing On Ice's shows.

I suspect the big song and dance made of Gary's return is probably down to the stories about Cowell wanting to sack him which will have dented Gary's ego somewhat. The wording of the press release ('announcing our first judge') suggests that not all of the judges will return, and with Louis and Tulisa almost certainly back it looks like Kelly will be out (quite the turnaround after she was probably the best at the auditions).

Not sure who they could get instead. Alesha Dixon is good on BGT so she could be an option, but two shows could be a bit much. Cheryl and Dannii are presumably out of the question now. I suspect they won't manage to get a massive name (people like Adele are completely out of the question) so they might find it difficult to get the right person (Kelly Rowland definitely isn't the right person though).

I can see that happening as well, they will want to get their department store period drama in first, they can't have it looking like they were the ones who did the copying .

I don't think Dancing On Ice will have a strong lead in if they combine the shows. Strictly dipped against The X Factor when it was an all-in-one programme and that was in a stronger position than Dancing On Ice is in now. I also think there's more of an audience crossover between Dancing On Ice and Call The Midwife than Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor.

Simon did both shows before his American experiment so it's possible. Saying that, it may result in a stay of execution for Amanda Holden on Britain's Got Talent if it's decided that having Alesha on both programmes is too much. I think she's the only obvious choice at the moment, unless the rumoured Britney Spears deal means she'll judge on both shows!

I have to disagree with this. The reason the BBC has seen a new generation of hits coming through this year is precisely because they took risks with scheduling shows against what had traditionally been strong nights for ITV.

You get nowhere if you don't take risks, and television as an industry is all about risk. ITV will do itself no favours if it bows down.

Anyway, we're talking about a 9pm drama. There's absolutely nothing to suggest the BBC will move CTM out of the 8pm slot, that's pure speculation. If Sherlock does come back in January (and I'm not convinced that it will) it only runs for three weeks at a time anyway. And ITV can always delay Mr Selfridge if they get nervous

But to me it screams Sunday night drama and ITV has to do SOMETHING.

The BBC can afford to take risks though; if a show struggles against big hitters in the overnights they can hope iplayer etc. can claim more viewers who then tune in for the next episode. But the commercial channels need viewers on the first look (or on +1) so the adverts are watched.

I'm not saying the commercial channels should give up but I do think they have to be careful with how they schedule now - look at ITV1 moving Britain's Got Talent and Channel 5 moving Once Upon A Time so they avoid The Voice.

DOI would still give it a c7m lead-in, and possibly more if they refresh it, which they desperately need to do. Bring Jason back to the panel, alongside another celebrity (I've seen Dannii Minogue mentioned - she'd probably do it as its a pretty big gig and Cowell isn't involved) and one or two skaters (maybe keep Robin and Katarina but they're hardly full of charisma). Give them more money to get better celebs and less soapstars (probably have 1 or 2 less couples), get Torvill and Dean more involved with the live show, get rid of Karen Barber's on-screen role and give the whole thing a makeover. They need to speed it up too. It might be airing alongside the Selfridge show, so make it seem like the Selfridges of entertainment shows rather than the Primark that it was this year (get a live band, have good guest performances, get rid of the waving, winking and clapping). It's probably their last throw of the dice to try and really make it work so they need to actually put some effort into it.

Okay, I see what you're saying, but on that basis I genuinely don't see how airing Mr Selfridge at 9pm on a Sunday in the winter is this outrageously big risk that they should avoid.

It needs the same kick up the backside that Strictly received a couple of years ago. Maybe they could get Alesha in as judge? She can be the ever present in the ITV schedule then.

Seriously, I agree with everything you say. I suppose it's reasonable to expect a lead in of around 7m as people tune in just for the result; it's just the risk of them tuning out again afterwards! But as you say, Dancing On Ice needs to feel faster than it did last year - it's not going to manage that if the production team is told to create filler so viewers can vote.

I just don't see the logic of airing Mr. Selfridge on a 'weak' night where Dancing On Ice may offer a 7m lead in (ok, it could be more if it's given a kick but it could be less if it continues to slide) when it could be sure of a 9m lead in from Coronation Street on a Monday night - a night where BBC One tends to be weaker.

I've always believed it's tougher for DOI to attract celebrities than SCD because ice-dancing is a tougher discipline than regular dancing and because of the greater risk of breaking an ankle or getting a skate blade embedded in your skull. So getting "better celebs" may be easier said than done.

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And running Mr Selfridge at 9pm on Sunday in Winter shouldn't be a problem if it's as good as Downton Abbey. On the other hand, if it's as bad as Titanic......

I think you're placing too much emphasis on the lead-in. Lead-ins don't mean very much these days. If the show is good it will work wherever it is scheduled.

Depending what it's up against. I suppose if BBC One has a potential flop/average rating show there then Mr. Selfridge will be fine.

It does depend on what it's up against, but that would be the case wherever it was scheduled.

Can you imagine how long DoI would be if it ran all in one?

If they're keeping it on Sunday as I've said all series they need to cut 15 minutes from the main show (including any pro performance) and claim it back by extending the results show and beginning that at 9.15pm. The first show would benefit from the shorter running time (and early series show it doesn't need to be so long), while the results show is more likely to get 9pm floaters to stick around for a show beginning at 9.15pm than 9.30pm, and the extra 15 minutes can easily be padded out with the pro performance and just by milking those pauses ever so slightly longer.


I agree though with TV Burp gone it should now take the split route, with a 7.15-7.30pm start on Saturdays then either a 7pm or 8pm show on Sundays, with the Wild at Heart replacement at 9pm. It would need a companion on Sunday in the entertainment genre (Celeb Chase would do the job), while Take Me Out would be knocked back a few weeks until the DoI shows get shorter, but it's proved it can start any time from 6.45pm to 9.15pm. Obviously then there are knock on effects when The Voice kicks in on BBC1, but ITV can't hide away from it so might as well fight it head on.

True. I suppose I'm thinking in the great scheme of things. I honestly believe that they should chuck Dancing On Ice on Saturday nights with a 30-60 minute results show on the Sunday. Quarter One Saturday's are barren at the moment and Dancing On Ice would basically attract the bored audience who have nothing else to watch. The results show may take a hit but I don't think it'd be too heavy if it was live and had a couple of big performances included. Then it could be followed by a two hour drama like Lewis which relies as much on sales as it does on ads, so it wouldn't matter quite so much if it's hit by the likes of Call The Midwife.

Fantasy Schedule warning

Some random US news Deadline is reporting that NBC have given an early pick-up to Matthew Perry starring single camera comedy Go On. Go On will also re-team former Friends star Perry with former Friends co-show runner Scott Silveri. NBC already gave a straight to series order to Bryan Fuller's Hannibal for next season as well so apparently their schedule is starting to take shape for them.

Also The CW is doing a massive shake-up of Top Model for next season. From what I can tell all of the judging panel except for Tyra Banks have been fired.

An interesting idea, almost like style over substance?

Tyra and I think Cutrone is still there. My main thought is, why? The current season of ANTM is basically tanking, even by its CW standards. Even though CW as a whole is sinking like a stone, until Cycle 12, it was above the typical CW numbers. Cycle 13 and 14 was also doing passably well.

Honestly, I have no idea what ANTM is trying to achieve here. The format is virtually dead. All-stars and US vs UK schtick clearly didn't work and the upcoming "the college edition" sounds even worse. Are they just trying to make the milestone 20 cycles and call it quits? They are currently on 18th cycle. Unless they have better photo shoot/challenges or alter the elimination format, I don't see ANTM coming out of the ratings grave anytime soon.

Sam Hodges‏ @Sam_Hodges
#HIGNFY (5.3m) and #NotGoingOut (4.2m) were the highest rating shows between 9-10pm (exc +1 channels) #BBC1

John Williams‏ @JohnWilliams004

#LifeStories averages 4.3m (with +1)

John Williams ‏@JohnWilliams004
#ALeagueOfTheirOwn returns with 567k peaking at 661k

Upstairs Downstairs is gone according to one of its actors.

https://twitter.com/#!/TheNeilJackso...05500031905792

"Such a shame. I have just heard that the BBC will not be making any more Upstairs Downstairs. I loved the show and will miss is greatly "

Hardly surprising considering its ratings trajectory.

Sam Hodges ‏@Sam_Hodges
345K for #ReggaeBritannia on #BBC4 last night.