In scheduling news, The Hotel Inspector looks set to return for its 9th series on Thursday 6th July @ 9pm. Third time lucky after two unsuccessful launches in a row in this timeslot?

Just caught the promo for it and it's absolutely brilliant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I0oPVUI8qY

Such a talent is Alex, so glad she signed up for another series. I wonder if some of the 2m+ viewers that watched and enjoyed her very similar BBC Two show recently will dare push the "5" button for this one?

Changing the subject slightly, what are we to make of BBC One dumping True Love over 4 consecutive nights in a 10.35pm timeslot during the summer? The last episode in fact goes out at 11.15pm.

Looks a bit of a waste when drama repeats are occupying primetime slots some nights. Could it really do much if any worse than Call the Midwife repeats for example?

Most BBC2 viewers have had their Channel 5 button removed from their television by Harrods.

(joke adapted from one made by Paul Merton on Have I Got News For You regarding Ian Hislop and ITV. Overlooks the prolifercation of remote controls - comedic licence)

It's improvised so I'm suspecting it's a brave experiment that hasn't quite worked.

Last year's 2nd eviction had 1.49m overnight, last night 1.5m so not exactly a run away success.

Last year it was said the low ratings were down to being to soon after CBB, this year the figures aren't much more than last year's but are now described as great, fantastic, marvelous.

When on Channel 4 in 2008 low ratings were regarded as 2.6m with 15% share.

Big Brother 11 on C4 launched with 4.5m compared to BB12 & 13 on C5 both launching with 2.6m.

Ah. Cast looked good from what I saw. I'll give it a go.

You may larf...but if the ratings are low...I'm sure that excuse will be wheeled out.

It's one of those dramas where you get a different main cast in each episode with some characters making cameo appearances in other characters' episodes. So it's easier to attract big names because it's not a big time-consuming commitment for them.

Whatever the drama's possible flaws, it's certainly been very well promoted by the BBC. Wonder if it'll rate higher than Holby on Tuesday.

Yikes, I hadn't considered the possible implications of the footie on Holby. That could hit a record low, but it would be in good company as a lot of soaps/drama serials have hit those or come close in the past year.

It's not 9pm material, it's not that costly and 2 million at 10.35 would be a good result for it....

BBC1 holds rights to live coverage of EURO 2012, Wimbledon and the Olympics. It is only to be expected

Fair enough.

She was screen tested according to Brian, how bad must she have been if they thought he was better?

Well I'm not that big a fan of Brian, I wanted Dean to win BB2, but he had done live presenting before, and many hours of it. Cole has done nothing, presenting-wise.

I really don't think he's that bad either in BB, as I've said prefer him to Davina.

Is Kitchen Wars being dumped then?

about as bad, as her singing most likely.

Why people think she is good at anything, is beyond me.

Kitchen Wars was only on at 9pm for its first week and is now on at 8pm.

Davina already said she wouldn't do it before C5 had ever signed a contract. She switched agents before BB finished and was presumably advised to stay away. I think she made the right decision for her career, she's doing other stuff now that's probably more appropriate for her.


Haha.


As if she was screen tested.

Why not, she's never denied Brians claim, as far as I'm aware.

Because the likelihood of C5 turning down one of the (if not THE) most talked about stars in this country in favour of Brian Dowling is pretty low.

I always thought it was accepted that this story was pure tabloid conjecture to capatalise on Cheryl's profile.

Possibly, but if she couldn't present at all, it's not a great start to the show.

Mind you she can't sing at all, and she's massive in that.

I doubt she was ever even approached, and if she was I'm sure their calls were never returned.

I'll have some of whatever he's smoking...


Does seem odd to promote "EastEnders - next week" without actually giving any clues as to when the out of slot episodes are airing - or at least "Continues Tuesday at 7pm" etc.


Which it would have done, comfortably, had the France game coverage gone off air at 6.30pm.


Out of interest, how many episodes so far in 2012 has EE been put into a forced clash with EmFm or other ITV big hitters like BGT, compared to the same period in 2011?

To respond to Roscoe's comment about the low BBC1 coverage rating for the England match, had they aired something else at 7pm ("Best of The One Show"?), and started the coverage at 7.30pm given the delayed start and the clash with the France game, they would have averaged about 12.4m by my reckoning - and that would still have been with a 20 minute clash with the live football.

Great to see Alex has returned to present another season of The Hotel Inspector on Channel 5. I really didnt know who would have taken over from her on it, as she was so good