What will be interesting for me tonight is that it is possible that Downton Abbey will beat The X Factor. Let's not forget that it had 8 million (overnights!) on Christmas Day last year against very tough competition, a million and a half more tonight could see it beat or equal The X Factor.

I love MPD but am just tired of it. It really shouldn't be on so much. I completely agree with one of the previous posters, too many people are winning. Only one or two per series should win, nowadays, there is generally a winner every show! It just doesn't seem risky anymore...

Thanks for the big round up Neil, interesting to see such a low share for ITV's X Factor repeat at 12.

Interesting to note that thats Doctor Who's highest series overnight (outside Christmas) since the Weeping Angles 2-parter in 2010.


Oh and Downton should win tonight, but expect X Factor to be above 8.5m; whilst starting after, many will watch X Factor knowing Downton is coming up I think.

I would assume that if they opt to start The X Factor later next year (and I'm not convinced they will) then rather than cutting down on the number of episodes we'll just get more Saturday/Sunday double headers. Scheduling that would present a whole new set of problems for ITV.

When it comes to boot camp the obvious problem there is that whilst audiences might not respond to it all that much its a pretty essential part of the format. They need some way to whittle down the hundreds of people they say yes to during the auditions to a more manageable and recognisable number. Boot camp is really the quickest and most efficient way of doing that. I agree that its probably the weakest part of the format though but they've tweaked it here and there over the years without every really finding a way to make it work. To be honest I think the entire boot camp/judges houses stage need a complete revamp and rework. How they get from auditions to live shows is really the only part of the format that's open to any kind of major change or shake-up. I'm not sure what that would be though. My only thought remains that it seems to me that they're missing a ratings hook by not having the final contestant reveal and which judge gets which category reveal done on a live show of some kind. How you'd work that I don't know though.

This the same Murdoch who has a vested interest in The X Factor brand been as successful as possible, given how much his Fox network have banked on the US version? Not that it is paying off, mind.

My Digiguide said it aired on ITV3 last night. Since it didn't start until five past midnight (coincidentally running up to the BARB cut-off point at 2am, so a figure should be available) I think it will have achieved a very low rating which is a shame. Wikipedia agrees it was released in 1996, and I agree with you that they should be more careful with their EPG information (Digiguide also said it was the 20-year anniversary), especially with such sensitive topics.


Slightly correcting myself there, it started at 12:20. I still think that's a waste of airtime, with all the ITV2 repeats it gets as well.

That doesn't mean he has a vested interest in the UK version being successful. Although to be honest he does. Or at least The Sun does. The X Factor provides an incredible amount of content for them all year around what with rumours of new judges and the like. If there's nothing to replace The X Factor then The Sun is going to be hit by an X Factor death.

Yes, it has to be said, I find the comment bizzarre, the Sun is practically a cheer-leader for the show most of the time.

Ovenight for Sunday 18th September 2011:

X Factor: 11.5m
Downton Abbey series 2 episode 1: 9.2m

(both including +1 figures of roughly 300,000)

Well they were a big fan of BB until ratings fell and they decided to royally ignore it and when it was cancelled, couldn't contain their joy. The Sun, like The Daily Star, tends to big up the most popular shows and also the most mass market ones. It is assumed by these papers, that if you buy them, you're far more likely to watch TXF than a documentary on BBC Four ( the Daily Star doesn't even feature BBC Four in its programme guide).

About where I expected Strictly Come Dancing to be (predicted 8.1m on the DSRPG though the DSRPG average was lower at 7.7m). It was always going to see a rise on last year considering the later start and the hype surrounding the Olympians. A very good start which bodes well for 5th October - especially as it's seemingly avoiding Coronation Street and has barely any competition in the 9pm hour. 10m should be possible.

As for The X Factor - every year-on-year comparison is going to look horrible at the moment. I said I expected it to be below the 2m mark in terms of difference but it didn't quite manage that; the 10 minute clash with Doctor Who dragged the figure down somewhat. The best the show can hope for is it holds up which will see the year-on-year decrease lessen as the series goes on. It's definitely not dead yet.

Bizarre scheduling from Channel 4 - creative renewal obviously means something different in their dictionary to mine as there's no sign of it happening yet. The Million Pound Drop is being buried under the ground with constant runs and Comedy World Cup was bizarrely scheduled to say the least.

BBC Two had a decent night for a set of repeats; BBC One held up very well outside Strictly Come Dancing whereas ITV1 did not outside The X Factor (a show which is seemingly heading towards the axe) while Wyatt Earp didn't light up the ratings board on Channel 5. The Xtra Factor is performing well for ITV2 when considering the downturn for the main show.

Fox have confirmed their new panel for American Idol. As expected Mariah Carey is joined by Nicki Minaj and country star Keith Urban. Randy Jackson will also return to the panel for another season with Ryan Seacrest once again taking up hosting duties.

However, well done to the preview show for SCD. I think with the olympians and a veteran character like Johnny Ball, this season is going to be massive. This show, now in its ninth year, keeps going by its nice feel( none of the hysterics and baying audience you get on TXF), the excellent quality of the dancers and the orchestra and the legend that is Sir Bruce.
I'm not having a pop at TXF, as it has done wonders for ITV, but I'm more of an SCD man. Well I am 44.

If The X Factor sees a 20% decline year on year it'll rate around 9.2m. A 25% decline will rate at 8.6m. A 15% decline (which they'll be satisfied with) will rate at 9.8m. A 30% decrease (they may push the panic button over that) will rate at 8.1m.

I imagine it will be between 8.6m and 9.2m so I wouldn't be at all surprised if Downton beats it.

(All this depends on whether I've done the sums right!)

MPD did a series from Jan-Feb, Mar-Apr, Jun-July, July-Aug (celebrity games) and there's one now running until October. What next? November to December? It needs a revamp.

Also, XF has The Chase Celebrity Special as a lead-in tonight.

Interesting that they've elected to go back to a four person panel. It looks decent though; now they'll have to wait and see how their personalities come across. Idol 2011 proved that a singing show can survive Simon Cowell and they'll need to try and get back to that vibe.

I wonder how George Gently will do against DA.

How The X Factor does here is nowhere near important to Uncle Rupert than how it does for his Fox Network in America. The X Factor might fill Murdoch's papers here but I doubt it really helps shift that many papers.

It needs a rest. I have no doubt it'll be given another series in the run up to Christmas and they'll repeat the pattern all over again next year.

It's a decent premise but they have to stop flogging it to death.


I hope The Chase records an increase because of that. I think they need to be looking at moving the normal run into primetime as I think it could do a decent job for them. Of course, the question is what will replace it in the 5pm slot. I suppose they could always bring Britain's Best Dish back and run it alongside Tipping Point and maybe even try and bring back The Paul O'Grady Show to an early evening slot - though he may not want to go back to daily shows.

Still getting 9 mil, BB never got that. They'll keep on reporting it for a good while, but as always, like everything they report it'll be in a reactionary, sensationalist and downright tawdry way.

I forgot about George Gently, but it should be around ~4.5m like last week when it was up against the Paralympics. Downton may be slightly dented as a result, but I would be surprised if Downton was not up year-on-year.

The redtops go through phases with shows. In the eighties the Daily Star had a Coronation St story every day, The News of the World had a fixation on Joan Collins and Dynasty, The Sun went hyper when Denmania was at its height on EE and the Daily Mirror seemed to go more for Coronation St as The Sun was EE. They tend to gauge what their readers watch and publish stories about their favourite shows. These days TXF dominates the redtops and the mid market tabloids seem to go for SCD.

Big Brother 2002 recorded a rating of 9.4m for the final show.

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/big-br...150720.article

Did BB not get 10 million for the 2001 final? Actually the way Channel 4 scheduled the second series was quite clever as it really boosted Sex Tips for Girls, which followed it and which they knew many BB fans would like.
Now that's something we don't get much of now, sex tips programmes as in the early to mid noughties we had the Good Sex Guide, Cathouse, Sex Tips for Girls, More Sex Tips for Girls, The Sex Inspectors.

... which consolidated to 10.01m