I think an extra CS episode could be counter productive, but Emmerdale doesn't need six episodes and should be cut to five. I wouldn't suggest the big three are likely to be axed unless there is a dramatic fall in ratings and they would more likely to be moved to daytime. However, Emmerdale does need to seriously look at itself as it is underperforming and the blame lies with episode overkill, which means weaker storylines and stressed out actors.
Of all the soaps, let's hear it for Doctors, a consistent performer in daytime that is quite a watchable show.

Doctors would be perfect for BBC1 at 7 pm on weekdays when they get round to ditching TOS.

Might not do too well in that slot as it is more of a daytime show, but maybe in an ex CBBC slot at 4.30. I think TOS is likely to be around for a while as Auntie has found a decent rival to Emmerdale.

Doctors is a fantastic little soap and at times in the last couple of years it's been my fav soap.

Im not sure a 7:00pm slot would work but a later slot is needed imo. even if it gets a 6:30pm repeat slot on BBC2

It's a decent soap and I agree with the 6.30 slot on BBC Two. I don't think peak time on BBC One would be such a good idea as it would face Emmerdale every night and would lead to allegations of derivative programming.

You didn't follow the BB12 ratings at all then? The days of an eviction night boost would appear to be over. It was however up on last week and last series. If C5 want more out of the eviction shows, then a good place to start would be to hire someone capable of carrying the live shows.

Still, it must be said that 1.57m is well above average for C5 on a Friday at 10pm (previously Castle occupied this slot and consistently rated below the million mark, with FAR worse demos, even with a useful Mentalist lead-in) and the show is adding nearly 400,000 on timeshift so some episodes that aired this week will be mighty close to the magic 2m mark when BARB.co.uk updates with the relevant numbers in 9 days time.

Bottom line is that far from there being anything "seriously wrong", the show is doing pretty well this series and as things stand is highly likely to return next summer.

It is a good asset to Channel 5, and I think they'll run it until the show becomes too tired. Ever thought they should bring Davina back, Dancc

The show wasn't doing that much better on Eviction than normal with Davina, come the end. I've always thought Channel5 should have gone with someone totally unconnected with the show. Jameela Jamil would be my choice. Someone that would give you good coverage in the Up-market Mags, done live TV, untainted by the past.

Whilst I would love to see Davina back, she's just not interested, to the point she doesn't even watch now. I'm sure BB and Channel 5 would welcome her back with open arms, but it's not going to happen. It would look like a bit of a backward step anyway.

It doesn't need to be Davina, just somebody with plentiful live TV experience who can inject some much needed excitement into the shows. Sometimes it feels like a bit of a chore watching Brian struggle his way through his links and it shouldn't feel like that.

They don't even have to look very far. Kirsty Duffy would be a good choice. She's got bags of live TV experience (currently seen every weekday morning on 'The Wright Stuff'), always looks natural in front of the camera and fits well with the target audience. It doesn't have to be a big name presenter.

Evictions are the whole point of the show. Its what each week builds up to and if the eviction shows have less viewers than some of the highlights shows before it then there is a problem. It isn't necessarily with the show- its with the eviction programme itself.

I haven't watched much of this series because I'm just generally bored of the format but from what I've seen they really are woeful in comparison to when they were on Channel 4. Its a shame because I appreciate some of the changes Channel 5 have made to bring BB up to date but for me the eviction shows really are a problem and are letting the whole thing down.


They don't even have to look that far. The answer is right under their nose- Emma Willis. I watched last weeks eviction and her interview on BOTS was far better than Brian's.

I agree - I think Doctors perhaps needs a higher profile (maybe a 5pm repeat on BBC1 a la Neighbours) but it shouldn't be on at 7pm purely because of how that would look in the 'bigger picture' of the BBC's evening schedules. I do however remember selected episodes being rerun in summer 2001 or 2002 at 7pm as a way to promote the show.

On Monday Doctors has a huge episode which ends on a massive cliffhanger and then takes a 3 week break. This would be a great time to introduce a later slot

I think this is Doctors biggest ever stunt

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s1...n-the-air.html

Meh, she never watched before which was patendly obvious by her excreble eviction interviews. Loved her in the beginning, but she became a big reason for it's decline come the end, IMHO.

Yeah, I doubt she'll be back anyway, despite other shows failing, she's got that rehash of Surprise Surprise doing well. She wanted away from BB for years, if Davina or her dating show hadn't bombed she'd have been gone years ago, so she won't be back

Maybe Davina got a bit narked when the show was cancelled and Channel 5 didn't want her.

Oh I agree. But the eviction night problem is not a new one, it's been like that since it started on C5. It's very telling that the Domino's eviction night partnership was one of the first things to go.

I think from a production point-of-view the live shows work well (and look great) but there's no getting away from the fact they could do with someone more experienced hosting and the recap at the start needs to go because it's utterly pointless to repeat stuff to the same audience that watched it all unfold the previous few nights. This feature did serve some small purpose when it looked at how the press had been covering the show during the week, but as the press no longer cover the show, it serves no purpose at all and just irritates regular viewers who would rather see more highlights of the previous day.

Here's how the three big soaps have officially rated so far this year (until 8/6/12 - the latest date BARB consolidated data goes up to):

- EastEnders has averaged 8.61m. This is down -771k (-8.3%) vs. the equivalent average at this point last year.

- Coronation Street has averaged 9.28m (inc +1: 9.50m). This is down -490k (-4.9%) vs. the equivalent average this point last year.
- Emmerdale has averaged 7.43m (inc +1: 7.59m). This is down -314k (-4.0%) vs. the equivalent average this time last year.

Also she thought the show was hers and started saying that the cancellation of CBB in 2008 was a major tragedy in her life and that people who hated the show were snobs. Sorry, Davina, the show had become boring and unpleasant.

Although a BBC2 repeat in the 6pm hour wouldn't be a bad thing I think it's wrong to suggest the show should be moved to primetime. It does it's job in daytime and breaks up the monotomy of house buying, antiques, house buying and antiques.

Also keeps actors in a job. I often wonder if re running any of the old Aussie potboilers in daytime like Cell Block would work.

Don't like Doctors but the episode premise sounds interesting so I'll be one on the extra viewers the show attracts, England rating was poor and disappointing. Are fans realising what a poor shower of shite the team really are?

It was a good match to watch. However, I think Tuesday will rate higher and it will be payday for ITV1, making this Tuesday definitely not flop day.

Thunder and lightning on BBC1...

They just need to strip it back to basic links between highlights packages and then a half decent interview. They're overthinking what they have to actually do and the eviction shows worked much better on Channel 4 in that form.

Again I appreciate the changes they've tried to make to make it better but it isn't working and the recaps/chats with friends & family are best left to Bit On The Side (where they should consider airing an extra episode an hour or two before the eviction).

Just a further mention about the set, it is nice and looks good on screen but I really hate how the housemates now walk 'above' the crowd rather than 'through it', it just takes any atmosphere away and I can't stand the outdoor interviews either.

Is that the same C5 that wanted Cheryl Cole to present the show, but instead with one from Lidls

The exciting new Danish detective series.