Adlington's doing her bike ride, so I don't think that's likely to happen.

we have had this discussion before, and TBH I think Strictly is the most likely they would go on, and I still think there is a good chance some medal winners would do a CiN one off special.

I could see one of two doing it, which would not be bad for the BBC.

Adlington clearly can't take being criticised, doubt she'd go on strictly.

Aren't most of the olympians back in training soon to prepare for the next events (which are of course much more low key). Only those who have retired would take part.

Would you want to go from a gold medal winning national treasure to someone who may be a bad dancing joke?

Yes for a bit of fun after years of endless training. Some will make their way in tv/broadcasting so what better way than to show the public more about you as a person than on a top rated BBC show. SCD is the only reality show that isn't seen as low rent & they've done well to maintain that. Surely folks like Victoria Pendleton/Rebecca Addlington would be prime candidates. Previous medal winners have taken part,

You make a good point, Victoria Pendleton would probably be the main target for scd. She is retiring, she has left at the top of her game, she has become a bit of a pin up, cycling was very successful and celebrated sport for team GB in London 2012. At the same time cycling doesnt have the appeal that athletics have, so there wouldnt be the same competition to get her, in comparison to say Ennis or Mo.

Sporting folks have been very successful over the years. It seemed that half the BBC presenting team had been on SCD!! The other one I suppose could be Beth Tweddle.

From the 8.15 quarter The X Factor was above it's overall average so how much did the opening quarter of an hour drag it down? Was it down to the weather or people not realising it was on in the first place? If it was the former, then moving the show forward by 15 minutes is not going to help at all. If it was people not realising it was on then the show still has a chance and it still averaged a share of 43.7% which is nothing to be sniffed at.

The promotion has been shocking; like Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother it should have been held back a week to get rid of the Olympic hype and allow the tabloids to immerse themselves in X Factor frenzy once again.

But the show is nowhere near dead.


I noticed that too. Series 12 will be on Channel 5 in 2015.

I remember that from breakdowns last year though, the opening 10 minutes start off slow, and that is reflected in the breakdowns. It is like ITV train viewers to miss the first 10 minutes knowing full well that they have missed absolutely nothing. I don't think that's weather related.

The shares in the breakdown include +1 too, without +1 it would be approximately:

20:00 - 6.7m (34.5%)
20:15 - 8.0m (40.3%)
20:30 - 8.3m (41.2%)
20:45 - 8.7m (41.7%)
21:00 - 8.6m (39.5%)

9.2m and 9.9m were the 5 minute peaks by the way.

At least it was scraping the 40% mark for most of the show I guess. I said it would struggle to make the 8m mark last night; it simply has nothing going for it.

It now needs momentum. I'm sure we'll hear a story about Simon Cowell re-editing the next episode in a panic sometime during the week.

Exactly - and it does seem this time around most of our Olympic Champions are likely to aim to retain their title in four years time with only a few known to be retiring. Of course though some will take time out after the Olympics and could squeeze a project like Strictly in - but others, like cycling and swimming, will be back in competitive action later in the year - the track cycling season begins mid-autumn and the swimmers have the World Short Course Championships.

I do think Strictly's best bet would be to use Olympians for their Christmas special - I think there is much more mileage in an end of year Olympians special than having an Olympian in the weekly show.

It seems tonight's ITV1 drama isn't usual ITV1 type drama, so I expect that will translate into poor ratings.

I think they will do both, have one in the main show (most likely Victoria Pendleton) and try to attract more for the christmas special. The bike ride that rules Rebecca Adlington out of the main show, probably won't rule her out of the special.

Would help boost the Christmas show, which didn't do as well last year. Could they move it to New Year's Day, or the Saturday inbetween, this year, Christmas is looking pretty crowded this year with Royle Family, Call the Midwife, and Miranda to fit in.

Plus it's up against Silent Witness. It doesn't stand a chance really. They should really moved either Last Weekend or Thirteen Steps to Thursday where BBC One is weaker and ITV1 can utilise the soap lead in.

It's a shame when this happens. Commercial channels can not continue to commission series 2, 3 etc and hope the show grows an audience as the money will not come rolling in to cover the costs.

For example, Series 1 of Luther didn't do amazing things in the ratings, but the BBC thankfully are in a privileged position to commission a second series if they believe in it as they are not looking for a return. It can not be considered a hit. If some of the more slick looking new series heading to ITV this Autumn are not instant hits, they are unlikely to return. I don't think Luther would have had a second series on ITV.

They could always go with:

6.00 Strictly Come Dancing
7.00 Call The Midwife
8.00 EastEnders
8.30 Miranda
9.00 EastEnders
9.30 The Royle Family
10.30 Mrs. Brown's Boys

The EastEnders split worked so well in 2008 (?) with Wallace and Gromit and surprised they haven't tried it again to boost certain shows. Miranda would certainly make the most of the sandwich.

That is an almost perfect line-up, but I would suggest that

a) Call the Midwife is too early.
b) You've forgotten Doctor Who!

Lol at this thread. Those poor people asking for Miranda figures on Friday.....

I knew I forgot something.

I know this sounds silly but if Doctor Who is in the schedule I think I'd shy away from the 8pm-9pm split for EastEnders and go for something like this:

6.00 EastEnders
6.30 Doctor Who
7.30 Miranda
8.00 Call The Midwife
9.00 EastEnders
9.30 The Royle Family
10.30 Mrs. Brown's Boys

In response, ITV1:

6.00 All Star Family Fortunes
7.00 Emmerdale
8.00 Coronation Street
9.00 Downton Abbey

Though BBC One will have the upper hand on the junctions.

I'm not sure that Luther is the best example here. It had international sales and co-financing that made its second series more palatable for the BBC. Also not to be too heavy handed about this the fact that its a primetime BBC1 drama with a black lead won't have hurt its chances either. The truth is there's was much more behind the renewal of Luther than someone at the BBC liking it.

I think the CTMW might be destined for 23 December - just before Christmas, but in keeping with its normal Sunday night slot like the Lark Rise special that was shown in 2008.

I think the BBC are planning a split episode already with the spoilers....Rumour is Birds of a feather will be back at xmas so can't they do

5:00pm-Dr who
6:00pm-Strictly
7:00pm-Call The Midwife
8:00pm-EastEnders
8:30pm-Miranda
9:00pm-Birds of a Feather
9:40pm-EastEnders
10:10pm-The Royle Family
11:00pm-Mrs Browns Boys
11:30-News
11:50-Film

I'd watch BBC1 right from Top of the pops if this is the case
and i'd even watch Call the Midwife

Although Call the Midwife had big ratings, I'm not sure it is Christmas Day material.

Heartbeat used to be massive back in the day, but I'm not sure it'd be on on Christmas Day.

It would be nice to see the BBC finally shake up their Christmas Day line up and spread their content throughout the following week a bit, though I suspect Strictly on Saturday 29th December might get somewhat lost - unless they throw in a couple more Olympic themed shows and make a night of it.

Sadly though the BBC isn't in the business now of trying to surprise us with their Christmas presents - it'll be the same old same old I'm sure.

Maybe not the best example, but the point I am really making is that commercial channels are nearly always looking for instant return on investment before committing to returning series which is a bit frustrating. Monday Monday and Kidnap and Ransom were two recent programmes on ITV I enjoyed and committed to only for both to be cancelled due to neither series setting the viewing figures alight.

That said, I will be watching most of the new drama on both BBC and ITV this Autumn/Winter as the trailers look like we have some treats in store from both.