Line Of Duty was excellent and did actually get great ratings for BBC2.

Here are its ratings.

26/06/2012 - 3,76m
03/07/2012 - 3,84m
10/07/2012 - 3,80m
17/07/2012 - 3,87m
24/07/2012 - 3,72m

Quite right, that's it.

It rated better than I remembered.

Thanks all...

Mine from last year: http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...postcount=2085

Now summing up this year and looking back actually there is an argument that outside of the big national and international events it probably hasn't been that great a year for British television. And maybe it's because I'm about to hit the big 3-0 but I've found myself dropping alot of shows I've watched for years this year and giving a few things I wouldn't even consider a chance.

Hit of the year: The Olympics is the easy obvious choice, but can't really think beyond that though no doubt Strictly had a good year - but still down on last year.
Flop of the year: Daybreak - way beyond fixing now
New hit of the year: I might bend the rules a bit here because it's not new, but The Chase feels like it's a "new hit" now. Similar with Mrs Brown's Boys - but I guess reluctantly it has to go to Call the Midwife as I can't think of a single other show that's burst on to the scene like that did.
Jaw-dropping rating of the year: The fact people stuck with the Olympic ceremonies from beginning to end.
Mystifying rating of the year: Call the Midwife - is that really the sort of thing people want to watch on Sunday nights
“So glad that flopped” of the year: The Royal Bodyguard - and also endless Million Pound Drop
“Such a shame that flopped” of the year: VIP - C4's first original comedy on Friday nights in ages and it just didn't get an audience despite being rather good.
Best Channel: With the Olympics it's BBC1 for sure - but without it I'm not that inspired by any channel this year
Honourable mentions: BBC3 and E4 can still deliver at times
Worst Channel: C4 - not that long ago at pretty much any point in the schedule you could rely on C4 to offer an entertaining alternative to what was on offer elsewhere, but under current management it's not even worth looking at the schedules.
Dishonourable mention: Weekend daytimes - this applies to all the main channels who've ripped out long term staples from the weekend schedules which gave them structure and familiarity and left viewers with a bland line up of nothing.


And a big thanks to all of you who take the effort daily to gather together the ratings info that many of us take for granted - it really is appreciated, especially when you venture out of primetime and give us the full picture for the day.

Here are my 2012 Awards:

Hit of the Year: It has to be Last Tango in Halifax. Possibly the biggest success of the Autumn. It took everyone by surprise at how nice it was.

Surprise Blockbuster: Well the award goes to Call The Midwife. A DA ratings grabber in its first series.

Biggest Turkey: The Royal Bodyguard.

Flop of the Year: The Town.

Nation Embracing Moment: The Olympic Opening Ceremony.

Funniest Sitcom: Mrs. Browns Boys

Best New Show: The Voice

Consistently Disappointing: Daybreak

Best Entertainment Show: Strictly Come Dancing

Worst Ending for a TV Series: Merlin

Best Soap: Emmerdale

End of Era Moment: CBBC disappearing from BBC1.

More awards
Channel 4 award of the year, The Paralympics, managed to get the station out of a ratings slump for two weeks and 11 million watched the opening ceremony, excellent for any channel.
The magic has gone award, while TXF certainly isn't in the flopzone yet, a drop of 20 pc compared with last year and over 30 pc with its glory year of 2009 is worrying. Perhaps next year could be its last if ratings continue to fall like this.
Comedy hit award, 9.5 million watching Miranda on Boxing Day shows this lady is comedy ratings gold.
Proof ITV can do quality and deliver the goods, DA continues to prove than when ITV puts its mind to it, it can make excellent dramas that pull in 11 viewers. DA has justifiably been another huge success this year.
Proof that ITV can still make embarassing trash, ROB obviously, but how about such cringemaking shows as Let's Get Gold, Peter Andre My Life, Bad Boyfriend Club, Top Dog Model and Lemon Aid, all of which failed as they are complete rubbish.
An 83year old still has The X Factor, Sir Bruce Forsyth in the Cowellathon's big rival, SCD, which pulled in a fantastic 12 million for the final and never fell below 8.5 million.
And finally, the surprise hit award on a minor channel, Dallas's glory days might have been in 1980, but 1.3-1.5 million still saw the new one as worth the effort, which it was. RIP Larry Hagman, sadly.

I think you're absolutely spot-on here - I had high expectations but it was curiously uninvolving and just seemed to be a mishmash of things we've seen done better elsewhere.

Thanks, George. Happy New Year to you and everyone else.

Happy New Year (slightly prematurely) to everyone on the thread. A cracking good year, hard to see 2013 matching it, but thanks as ever to all those who took the time and effort to seek out, collate and post ratings on here - an unrivalled source of public domain tv ratings info, and still one of the biggest threads on DS.

My review of the year... (and it might take you until 2013 to read it - Steve Williams will be proud of me)



Hit of the year

Mrs Brown's Boys - it started in 2011, but 2012 just went from one extreme to another. In a crud slot with dismal lead in, and tough ITV competition, it built an audience week on week, breaking through the 8m mark by the end of the run. The repeats won their slot each week. The DVD sales broke records, the tour was a sell out. It has been the cultural phenomenon of 2012, without fail.

And the icing on the cake was becoming the top rated show of Christmas 2012 with nearly 12m viewers, ahead of the fancied Downton and Call the Midwife. Staggering

Honourable mentions for Call the Midwife (which had a strong case - see below), and of course, Olympics 2012 which took over everything as expected and utterly dominated viewing with some amazing numbers - but the fact it was expected, and of course an event not a TV series, probably has to exclude it from the reckoning.

Flop of the year

A plethora of ITV shows getting 2m or less could all be worthy winners in a normal year, but to be a real flop you need hype, budget and a big name.

There can be only three contenders in my eyes:

- Martin Clunes scoring a big stinker late in the year with The Town, possibly now holding the record for ITV's lowest ever prime time first run drama audience

- Julian Fellowes's much vaunted Titanic which ITV got so excited about its likely crushing domination that it went into PR overdrive, including a 5 minute trailer after DA last Christmas Day

- and, of course, David Jason in The Royal Bodyguard - indescribably awful, and more so that they heavily promoted it, including getting Jason into a festive jumper for a cringing trailer/ident, rather than burying it as they should have done.

It's a tough call, and as much as everything points to Royal Bodyguard, it simply has to be Titanic- the show that carried so many hopes, swallowed up so much of ITV's drama budget, and nearly sank the reputation of Mr Downton himself.

Hilarious!

New hit of the year

No contest here - Call the Midwife, without question. Out-overnighted Sherlock on its debut, much to everyone's astonishment, and just grew and grew. Topped out at 11m, plus almost certainly the top-rated non-soap on Christmas Day. Quite an achievement, with Downton in the same schedule, and in its first year on screen!

Honourable mentions though for:

Last Tango in Halifax - best-rated new weeknight drama in ages

Bad Education - smart, funny, and smashed BBC3's ratings records

Line of Duty - smart, classy, and pulled in up to 4m viewers for BBC2 during the height of summer in the immediate run up to the Olympics

Hebburn - a lovely, warm and funny show, rating up to 2m , and nice to see BBC2 getting deservedly decent-ish comedy ratings again

As for ITV1 / C4: er, um, did they have any?

Jaw-dropping rating of the year:

2012 was the year of jaw dropping ratings. Eeks a plenty!

Call the Midwife getting 11m in a Sunday early evening slot, against a strong ITV line up.

The Jubilee ratings - nobody expected the Jubilee Concert to match the 12m from 10 years previously. But it smashed it, with over 15m.

And that astonishing average of 10.5m over an entire Sunday afternoon (12m peak) for the Thames River Pageant, whether or not the event or the BBC coverage proved a disaster in more ways than one.

SPOTY peaking at 14.5m, out-peaking the TXF and BGT Finals!

Great British Bake Off topping out at 7m on BBC2

Mrs Brown's and Miranda topping 11m at Christmas

Downton getting only 9m and a current 7th place for its Christmas Day special

Andy Murray getting to the Wimbledon Men's Final and averaging over 12m during a hot summer Sunday afternoon, including a good 16m+ for well over an hour, actually seemed a bit underwhelming given everything else this year.

But there can be only one, or perhaps two, monster jaw droppers to beat all others - the ratings for the Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Some of us harboured hopes of a 20m average for at least the opener, but our heads said otherwise - alongside many posters who said the length of the show and the anti-Games sentiment would mean anything over 15m was pie in the sky. Well, they were proved wrong and then some.

The single biggest jaw dropper for me is that reported peak viewing figure of 28.7m for the Olympics Opening Ceremony, according to a trusted source in BBC boss Roger Mosey.

Probably the largest TV viewing audience at one point in time on one channel there has ever been, or ever will be, in the history of British television.

And that's before we add in iPlayer viewings, of which there were also records broken.

It all happened this year!

Mystifying rating of the year:

I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here - it bucked the reality trend, when 2012 looked like being the year we all embraced real talent and endeavour, stood firm and drew a bafflingly large audience for what remains a ridiculously thin and puerile lowest common denominator TV format.

Worryingly, it appears to be almost single-handedly keeping ITV afloat!

"So glad that flopped" of the year:

Red or Black - they brought it back!

Whether arrogance or stupidity, or a contractual commitment to Mr Cowell, it should have been ditched last year. But it came back, and sank again. Enough!

We have to mention The X Factor - the descent into mediocrity continues. Remember, we were promised the fightback in 2012. Hm....

"Such a shame that flopped" of the year:

Friday Night Dinner / Fresh Meat - both turned in unfathomably and undeservedly poor second series ratings after scoring decently hit figures for their debuts

Robbie's Overall Show of 2012

Mrs Brown's Boys - see above. Nuff said!

Channel of the Year:

BBC1- no contest, it was a Golden Year for the channel, recording not just one 20m audience, not just two 20m audiences, not even three but a staggering four (if we include the average for the 100m final itself) - and at least 4 other peaks over 14m.

Plus several programmes over 10m, including two proper old school traditional sitcoms getting >11m, and a new drama that has from absolutely nowhere taken Downton's place in the hearts of millions of Middle Britain viewers - astonishing stuff.

Add to that a string of returning successes, whereas ITV constantly fired blanks and suffered red faces.

A stellar year, the like of which BBC1 has never seen before and will never see again.

2013 is going to be a real downer after all that - not just for BBC1, but for all of us!

Happy new year, I know we have our disagreements but it's nothing personal

Happy New Year to all.

Special Thanks go to those who take the time and effort into providing us with all the latest ratings figures.

Looking forward to seeing all the latest figures into 2013.

Largest consolidated TV audience ever, at 21:35 during the Opening Ceremony, 36m.

SPOTY almost matched the BGT final peak of 14.49m, but it outrated everything else you mentioned still

Another jaw dropping rating that some people haven't mentioned was The Chase getting almost 4m in a teatime slot - that we hadn't seen for ages.

2013, if ITV get their programming, could let it be their year but if this alleged 'ratings crisis' (well, by one person on this forum) is anything to go by, that seems out of reach.

Olympics as you mentioned, Jubilee Concert etc brought phenomenal ratings. X Factor actually surprised me by going below 8m for a semi final!

So glad that flopped - Red or Black. They could have aired Saturday Night Takeaway instead.

Shows that I want to do well in 2013 - the odd reality shows on ITV & BBC One, as well as a number of the dramas on both channels, and the sitcoms. Out of MBB, Miranda and Outnumbered, it seems only Outnumbered will be airing next year so I would be hoping for that to do well. Also, as Top Gear has been off air for almost a year, I would be hoping for that to come back with a bumper audience at the end of January.

Also some predictions of what might happen next year:
ITV will find it a lot easier there aren't any major sporting events or royal events on the BBC. After this year's declines, ITV will go all out to restore DOI and in particular TXF. Don't be surprised if Simon Cowell and Cheryl make regular appearances. I think both will improve slightly on this season.
Also that drama set around Manchester could be a very big hit in January if it's good enough and I do think the third button could see a modest success with its planned comedies.
CS will continue to be top soap, but I think EE has been badly rattled and could come storming back later in the year with a massive storyline like a disaster in the Square.
DOND will end as ratings are falling and an ageing Noel will be tempted back to a Saturday night format on the big two. However, I reckon this could be the stinker of the year as his glory days are behind him.
Continued massive ratings success for IAC, DA, SCD and BGT.
Channel 4 will be buoyed up with the three big races it has won from the BBC, and the GN will be their ratings jewel with 10 million viewers. Also on the subject of sport, Channel 5 will make a surprise win in the FA Cup contract as ITV seem lacklustre towards it.
For Channel 5, I foresee the civvy BB going this year as ratings will fall below the million mark, but like last year there'll be two CBBs, with 2.5 million viewers, and this will be a regular feature from 2014.
Last Tango in Halifax will be BBC's drama star in the autumn and a revitalised DW in the spring will see regular non timeshifted ratings of 8 million again.
MBB will be the top comedy show again.
Anyway signing off now and Happy New Year.

I think Ripper Street is more appealing to male viewers whereas Mr Selfridge will appeal to the female audience. Both should do well next Sunday. I don't think Ripper Street will drop much.

Great review Robbie - and I've got all the way to the end! It's been one heck of a year.

Well done to everyone who makes this thread so good, and so intelligent. With a few exceptions, it's info, analysis and comment on TV ratings is better reading than anywhere else - including any newspaper or industry magazine.

Happy New Year to you all!

How many times have we said that ITV1 had a dire night this year? Only an axed show saved them from humiliation yesterday; Wild at Heart basically self starting with a poor lead in and poor lead out not helping it. Ripper Street performed brilliantly and BBC One have a stable Sunday night schedule in place...I wonder what would happen if the soaps moved back there as I guess much of the soap audience watch Countryfile and Antiques Roadshow. The other 'main' channels were hurt a bit by the dramas though all picked up respectable figures.

Not being presumptuous, but given the length of my post above, can I suggest if anyone does wants to quote it, they don't quote the whole lot!

I've enough enemies on here as it is...

One prediction from me - and you can all bookmark this and throw it back at me - but the Grand National will not get 10m viewers on Channel 4.

No way, the days of the Grand National getting 10 million are gone now it's left the Beeb.

I don't think I can be particularly original in my retrospective of 2012 but here are my programmes of note for the year.

Thunbs up for:

CALL THE MIDWIFE (as it had the same slot amd ITV competition as Lark Rise To Candleford, presumably the BBC were looking for Lark Rise size ratings and were pleasantly surprised by what happened.)

LAST TANGO IN HALIFAX (part At Home With The Braithwaites and - with its older lead characters played by popular older actors - part New Tricks)

I'M A CELEBRITY (begrudging adiration for its continual big ratings success)

THE OLYMPICS (Wow!!!!! Despite the best efforts of G4S, a never to be bettered high for Great Britain and the BBC)

LINE OF DUTY (BBC2 drama needn't be restricted to 1m viewers)

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKEOFF (comfort telly for Middle England)

MIRANDA and MRS BROWN'S BOYS (11m for old-fashioned studio sitcoms. Fantastic. But I wait to see if they can impress in 2013. Lewis is no slouch as competition.)

SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (BBC get it right again. A fitting end to Olympic year.)

ONLY CONNECT (cracking 1m for BBC4, although it is possibly that 70% of all male viewers only watch for Victoria Coren and her school-marm persona,)

POINTLESS and THE CHASE (never mind Corrie v Eastenders or Strictly v X Factor, this was the big TV battle of 2012. And with the end of CBBC on BBC1, the battle is set to intensify in 2013.)


Thumbs down for:

THE ROYAL BODYGUARD (Whatever was David Jason thinking?)

TITANIC (although I still reckon the Great British Public willed this to flop cos they thought Julian Fellowes was getting too big for his boots and it was impossible for them to stop loving Downton Abbey so they had to find another way to take him down a peg or two.)

SPICE GIRLS' STORY: VIVA FOREVER (On primetime Christmas Eve? No, thank you, ITV)

DALE'S GREAT GIVEAWAY (no wonder ITV give it no publicity)

ANDREW MARR'S HISTORY OF THE WORLD (a little over-ambitious there, BBC)

THE VOICE (sorry, BBC, you will never be able to justify the money you spend on this format and the collapse in the ratings didn't help matters either.)

Just seen a video of Ratings thread favourites Jay Hunt, James Macleod and George Dixon playing Family fortunes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MIk9xTTFuM

Vernon kaye takes the micky out of Dixon in this special episode of family fortunes.

Was Titanic that much of a flop just because it dropped from 9m to 4m over a few weeks?

You're overlooking the fact that Miranda and Mrs Brown will be running right through January which may only be 3 hours away, but it's still next year.

I get the feeling Call The Midwife and Top Gear are going to launch in exactly the same slot (but on different channels, obviously). I'm guessing BBC research suggests not too much of an audience overlap there but it still suggest that to the BBC, overnights are increasingly irrelevant. A Top Gear audience will certainly know how to timeshift and Christmas proves that the Midwife audience know how to do it as well.

I can't find my 2011 review though I'm sure I must have done.

2012 Review Of The Year

Hit of the year
I'll pick a returning show rather than a new programme and, as others have stated, Mrs. Brown's Boys (BBC One) has performed spectactularly over the year. I think ITV1's reality behemoths of Britain's Got Talent and I'm A Celebrity... are worth a mention as well as they held up while the rest tumbled while Great British Bake Off (BBC Two) is going from strength to strength. As for the teatime battle, The Chase (ITV1) is consistently performing excellently but I hope ITV1 doesn't over expose it and as I've mentioned that I have to take my hat off to Pointless (BBC One) as well, which has recorded great figures.

Flop of the year
Where to start with this one.. I'd love to say Red or Black? (ITV1) but that flopped last year and it'd be lazy to say it again. I suppose I'd have to say The Royal Bodyguard (BBC One), which got a great figure in 2011 before collapsing in 2012. My other nomination would be Superstar (ITV1); I think the broadcaster wanted it to be the next big thing but from episode one it obviously wasn't. But then again, there are so many light entertainments from ITV1 maybe it would be unfair to single out that. And, to put it bluntly, Titanic (ITV1) sunk.

New Hit of the Year
What else can it be but Call The Midwife (BBC One)? Plunged into a schedule where it had to fight two big shows it left them behind with phenomenal figure after figure. Yes, there have been other hits but generally the opposition has been easier in those cases, not that they rated badly.

Jaw-dropping rating of the Year
Nomination number two for Call the Midwife (BBC One) for the reasons listed above.

Mystifying rating of the year
I know it's taken a slight dent but how is Embarrassing Bodies (Channel 4) so popular???

"So glad that flopped" of the year
Robbie's mentioned The X Factor so I'll mention The Voice (BBC One); I didn't think it was worth the amount the BBC paid for it and, while spinning chairs appealed to the public, the show didn't as it ditched them for the latter stages and became a glorified karaoke show. Still, there is legs in the format but the lack of thought, particularly in the latter stages, meant I was happy to see the numbers tumble. Maybe the 2012 series will see a revamp of sorts.

"Such a shame that flopped" of the year
I thought Let's Get Gold (ITV1) had lots of potential but it didn't pay off; maybe it was too close to Britain's Got Talent in format and didn't have the people to pull it off. Friday Night Diner (Channel 4) deserved much more than it got but the scheduling didn't help it in the slightest.

Channel of the Year
Although it only has one nomination in the above list, I think BBC Two deserves the award for some brilliant work, especially in drama and popular documentaries.

Happy New Year everyone!

A reminder that last year New Year Live peaked with a bonkers high of 12.82m (64%). The year before the peak was 11.2m, which seems a little more likely for tonight.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...postcount=2304

Channel 4 are showing The Iron Lady on Sunday, wonder if it can get good figures, I'm thinking over 2m but it could hit 3m.