Any idea why they aren't putting Hatfields & McCoys on the main channel? Its got pretty impressive star power and is very good. Not to mention that it did huge business in the US. Could have done well on Channel 5 rather than buried on digital.

Really hate that they got the rights to them, E! used to show them live and now all we get are highlights.

Waterloo Rd 3.64m v Emm 5.62m
Good Cop 3.35m v Bletchley 4.07m + 422k +1

Both BBC1s big hitters convincingly beaten by ITV (one even a decades old soap). Must be very disappointing for the BBC

What's really surprised me is the criticism coming from the show's most loyal fans. They're acting like Doctor Who fans saying the show isn't as good as it was before! I know for a fact a few journos wanted to publish some stories about how badly some of Cowell's shows were doing but he basically said to the editors pull the stories or I'll pull the access to my shows. So the stories never ran. He's still a very powerful figure in broadcasting but it's like some don't care and are starting to become more critical of The X Factor now. The question is what happens with the ratings this weekend?

Even with the show slightly down it still does enough for advertisers to pay to advertise during it. But if Strictly does rate better than The X Factor in overnights and officials regularly I can see Simon wanting to end the show.

The problem of course with this is that a big new format might not become a hit. Red or Black was supposed to be a big new format but flopped so badly. So even if Syco have a big new format ready to take over from XFactor, it could end up becoming a flop.

If Cowell had any sense he would put himself back on the panel next year. Along with Louis and 2 credible, decent females that might do enough to increase the ratings.

Not sure I would class those two BBC1 shows as big hitters. Nor would I be crowing about those two "victories".

Tough times at ITV if those results are celebratory.

My guess is that any new format will get similar treatment to Red or Black – a relatively short 'test run' to see how audiences react to it. I doubt they'll do what they did with The X Factor and just launch it straight out of the gate. Equally he might opt to test run it outside of the UK first in the US, Europe or Australia and then bring a known hit to the UK.

And the same few people on here will believe them and make the same posts each and every time, however it will come true at some time but not until it gets 5m per show

The same E! that made a right cockup of a certain live awards ceremony a while back?

Viewing figures show that more people watch 5USA's edited highlights. It's all well and good showing it live for a few insomniacs that might be around at that time but there's no money in it.

He can't put himself back on the panel – Fox won't let him.

There seems to be this mistaken belief that Cowell has dramatically scaled back his role on The X Factor UK because he wanted to. That's not the case. He's done it because Fox are paying millions upon millions for him to be the star of and executive produce the US version and they don't want him to divide his time between it and the US version. This is particularly true given that the US version wasn't the all powerful hit it was supposed to be. Short of X Factor being a massive breakout hit this year on Fox or it doing so badly they pull the plug I can't envision any situation in which Cowell can return full time (or even part time) to The X Factor UK panel. Unless ITV are willing to move it to a different point in the year (which they won't).

If they're going to bring back an old face next year it'll have to be one of Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minouge or Sharon Osbourne. Minouge seems like the only realistic option from that list and I'm not sure she carries quite the punch they need. Personally I'd suggest that if they've got any sense they'll get the only guest judge who's received a positive response from the audience, Mel B, back full time next year. And that would then free them up to potentially replace Gary Barlow with someone who has a personality.

that is very impressive.

Cant decide if Corrie Years is good in comparison to Waterloo Road, or Waterloo Road is just bad. Not too bad for EE however.

A look at his personal archive on the Daily Mail would suggest otherwise. December 2011 report saying Barlow wont be returning to X Factor...... I don't doubt he has good contacts, whether he neglects to use them to publish a circulation boosting fabrication is another matter. The X Factor, at the stage is getting 8m. It's doing better than everything on TV, except the soaps. It won't be axed by anyone.

Mmmm - let's see, plenty of bumming up done a while back for the new Waterloo Road - and I wasn't "crowing" about any victories - just setting the record straight in front of the usual BBC propaganda guff that we hear on here:- Waterloo Road was beaten by a decades old soap, Good Cop was beaten too.

Those are the facts - nothing to crow or celebrate, just facts. Something sometimes the BBC propaganda machine on here forgets.

I'm the only impartial person here. Good BBC1 and ITV dramas underwhelmed over the last few days. But ITV were slightly less underwhelming than BBC1 with their new dramas. BBC1 returning dramas did well but were down.

I think that covers everything.

I imagine it'll do quite well for 5USA, they don't have much exclusive content but I would have thought it could aired on 5 on Sundays against History of the World and Downton Abbey.

Bumming up?

It was only last week that we had many posters saying Waterloo Road was in crisis. I don't think WR has ever had an overnight figure of 5.6m, which Emmerdale has last night. It probably only has a handful of official ratings of 5.6m or better. You either don't know how popular WR and Emmerdale usually are or your purposely talking rubbish.

And a gritty serial on BBC1 loses out to a lighter, period drama on ITV1 is hardly a shock and not very noteworthy.

Maybe BBC One and ITV need less drama and more comedy. There's so much more drama than comedy on both channels these days. If you stick a pin in the 7-10pm schedule of either channel, you've much more chance of hitting drama or wishy-washy light factual than comedy.

Pizzatheaction, you can find new British comedy every weeknight on Freeview/Sky channels to entertain you if youre not happy with what BBC1 and Itv1 are serving. On Monday there was Citizen Khan [on BBC One itself] and Beaver Falls [E4, I think its a comedy right?], Tuesday had Bad Education [BBC3], Wednesday had Revolution will be Televised [BBC3] and Celebrity Bedlam [E4], Thursday had Edinburgh Comedy Fest [BBC3] , Friday has Trollied [Sky]. If you look hard enough, there is plenty of comedy and just because theyre not on the "big channels" like BBC1 or Itv1 doesnt mean theyre going to be bad.

The interesting one tonight is the fitba vs the paralympics, both popular and I reckon there could be losses on both sides. I think ITV1 will edge it with 4.5 million for the Engerland and the paralympics will pull in about 2.8 million. Also for CBB's final I'll go for 2.5 million.

Not sure if this has been picked up... From Twitter:

"@Jake_Kanter: Sky Atlantic's ambitious history series The British is thought to cost up to £1m an episode. Last night it was watched 66,000 viewers. Ouch."

Ouch indeed.

The Paralympics are skewing the ratings somewhat, just like the Olympics did though to a greater degree. The summer of hell for ITV will finally be over next week and maybe in hindsight they would have held back their new shows such as Mrs. Biggs and The Bletchley Circle until next week where Channel 4 will not be so potent.

But it's not plain sailing for ITV; The X Factor, from being a great show for them, is now becoming a pain in the backside even with it's better than average ratings. Again, they've chosen a bad week to air it on a Sunday up against the closing ceremony of the Paralympics which is going to result in some horrible headlines come Monday. I don't know if Simon Cowell really cares about the show anymore, though. Between a choice of both shows holding steady and the US version soaring and the UK version sinking I think he'd take the latter.

There's also Diamond League athletics again on BBC2 from 7 till 9. Three main channels showing sport in the heart of primetime. I expect another boost for Miranda from non-sport fans, and the Dallas repeat could also benefit. While the England qualifier should do better then the Super Cup last Friday, it's not a thrilling tie and I think it could be sub-3m if England score a couple of early goals.

Game of Thrones is getting a repeat run soon on Sky1 - be interesting to see how that does.


God, The X Factor really are jumping the shark with that.


Brilliant ratings - think that compares favourably with recent World Athletics Championships and though that was over 11 seconds compared to 90 minutes, I doubt England will get 6.3m watching tonight, though should peak higher.


Is that at 9pm or 10pm? At least they're not risking it against Downton Abbey.


I suspect it'll be around the same as the opening, perhaps a tad lower as without dismissing the event itself (and the Paralympics have been as amazing as the Olympics) one of the appeals of the Opening was recapturing the spirit of the Olympics, and I think the Paralympics have allowed people to ease their way out of London 2012 so unlike the Olympics viewers won't find it so necessary to capture every last second of it.


I'm sure he said exactly the same last time the renewal of the contract was around the corner too - although this time ITV might turn around and say fine. I wouldn't be surprised if it ended next year and Cowell had a clone of a replacement ready and waiting.


Arguably though it could do big business for both as I'm sure C5 will show it at some point, and with 5USA arguably not being as strong a stand alone brand as the spin offs of other channels are they could easily do that.

I miss sitcoms. There aren't enough sitcoms on BBC1 and ITV.