I think Catchphrase should stay in the Sunday slot as I don't think they yet have anything apart from Corrie to prop up that slot before X Factor. I can't see X Factor starting any later than 8pm this year - unless ITV schedulers lose their minds.

I think it was probably intended to fill the schedules mainly, and I don't think they were thinking of it becoming a hit, but if it becomes a hit, it becomes a hit.

A trip down memory lane...

We will undoubtedly get the "BBC play dirty tactics" headlines yet again this Autumn as Strictly will likely clash or overlap XF at least once! Can't be helped because like ITV they will want their top show to get the best slot. They are not going to schedule it at 5pm just to please Simon Cowell!

Just looking at the rest of the week on ITV:

Sun - no surprises 7pm Corrie 8pm X Factor 9pm Vera
Mon - 9pm Doc Martin
Tue - 8pm Ade in Adland 9pm Trauma Level 1
Wed - 8pm Big Star Little Star 9pm Whitechapel
Thu - 8.30pm Pat and Cabbage 9pm The Guilty
Fri - 7.30pm Football


BBC1
Sun - 9pm What Remains
Mon - 9pm Motorway Cops
Thu - 8pm Waterloo Road 9pm Celeb Masterchef
(everything else as it is now)

An absolute dire first week of a new season for BBC1.

Strictly & X Factor overlapped many times in 2008, 9 & 10 and they didn't seem to damage the show (even though they knocked the ratings a little bit). I hope ITV don't play "chicken" like they did last year - they avoided it completely and the first few live shows ended up finishing at 10:35pm (never mind the fact the last five minutes were only averaging 3-4m)...

Wednesday and Thursday looks iffy. If Pat and Cabbage flops straight off the bat, it is going to drag down The Guilty. Remember last Autumn as well when dramas on thursday were flopping left, right and centre: Homefront, Hunted, Good cop etc. On the Wednesday, how will Whitechapel cope without a Coro St. lead in for the first time ever?

BBC1 not looking strong that week but they are not launching their big shows yet. Monday is just filler. Waterloo road is a problem ratings wise but it is what it is, it is made to fill a regional quota.

You have missed out New Tricks. The only decent programme on BBC 1 at the moment. BBC 1 is looking tired this season.

So ITV's ratings crisis is restarting again according to Samuel...

BBC1 have never "fully launched" their new season like ITV does. ITV traditionally kick start their new season in early September. It is not unusual for the BBC to launch their top shows in October. Walking With Dinosaurs, Frozen Planet, Strictly, Merlin, Noels House Party have all launched in October.

Well you did pick on that thread earlier. And despite a few successes this year, ITV still does have a long long way to go to reclaim the crown of most watched channel. Stop trying to single him out in your posts. You're just as bad sometimes.

I don't see the point of launching a ton of new shows the same week as ITV are, it would just lead to diminished ratings for all. Looks like a strong schedule for ITV, but we know BBC have a lot coming up as well, their schedules will look healthier as we get into Autumn.


Fuelled by people like you taking notice of him and encouraging him.

You can't judge a channels "season" by looking at one week! The beeb have loads coming up. The Great Train Robbery, Last Tango in Halifax, The Escape Artist (major drama with David Tennant), Silk, Ripper Street, Quirke, The Paradise, Strictly, Atlantis to name but a few!

Don't know if this has been mentioned before but ITV have just advertised Great Night Out during the credits of Corrie. Bit strange for a repeat? Might be true what some are saying on here and ITV are thinking of bringing it back in some form or another.

Exactly. BBC1 have a strong looking season too, although it would have been nice to see it start with a bit more of a bang.

I do like that ITV seem to be having a big launch week although they kind of have to in order to get everything in before I'm A Celebrity takes over. BBC1 obviously don't have that so have to spread their content over a greater number of weeks, meaning it can't all launch at once.

Interesting. I think they want the repeat to do well to fuel their decision more as to bring it back or not.

Its been cancelled. One of the cast members [@Naomi_Bentley] said earlier today it's not coming back, this is just a repeat run theyre doing for the sake of repeating and theres nothing more to read into it.

Ask Lee Mack a few years ago about Not Going Out and you would have got the same answer.

And New tricks isn't tired LMAO



Well said.

Contractual obligation iirc

When did BBC1 last follow the 'new season' new shows formula? The usual nonsense from you
Are you deliberately trolling now?

Indeed. BBC1 have not really heralded new seasons since about 1997. They have lots of new shows lined up for the dark evenings but generally end of September has, for about ten years or so, been when BBC1 launch their big hitters.

Since ITV are repeating GNO and promoting the rpt, I would geuss that the axe could be turned and a new series commissioned, IF it rates well. Fingers crossed it does.

Sadly it's lead in is ITV News at Ten which gets less than half of the BBC equivalent and often rates lower than the BBC One O'clock news.

Production designer Paul Cripps:

Director Declan O'Dwyer:

DOP Dale McCready:

Actress Sarah Parish:

(all from twitter)

ITV certainly have some big new shows/series coming up over the next few weeks.

I suspect Stepping Out will be a relative flop, despite the weak competition. The celebrities hired are a trashy, unexciting bunch and the premise is pure copycat. What's more is that I think the pairing with X Factor may actually hinder the show (who will want to watch nearly 3 hours of reality in a row?!)

On the other hand I think X Factor ought to launch well. The minimum I would expect is 8m, and preferably closer to or even above 9m. We shall see!