They absolutely have too much Gordon Ramsey on the network.

The Simpsons is going to make a fortune for Fox now they've finally figured out the rights issue that was stopping cable syndication (and now online streaming via sites like Netflix). Its going to be interesting to see where they land but whoever gets them is going to pay big for them. I wouldn't be hugely surprised to see them land on USA given their big push into comedy. There will undoubtedly be huge competition for them though.

When it comes to replacing The Simpsons they seemed to be putting all their chips on a Flintstones revival (headed by Seth MacFarlane) but that seems to have completely fallen apart now. The show is pretty much impossible to replace though. Its like asking how do you replace Friends or Seinfeld (and as NBC can testify you can't). Only bigger. It'll be interesting to see how long Animation Domination lasts after The Simpsons finally ends assuming it ever does. Cable syndication makes the show even more profitable in all new ways so there's huge incentive to keep producing new episodes even if the ratings tank.

Also I'm not sure they are leaning less on MacFarlane. They gave Dads a straight to series order (which I feel they now regret) because he was attached to it. They've seemingly spent a sizeable sum of money on MacFarlane's Cosmos revival. And I suspect if he comes to them with a new series this development cycle they'll snap that up as well. His brand was massively overextended on the animation front though.

I don't quite understand how this Idol/X Factor fusion would work. What exactly would you do? It seems to me that any fusion would really just be turning Idol into X Factor and calling it something else (The Idol Factor?). At this point there's just nothing distinctly unique about Idol that can be retained. That to me would be the stumbling block for the whole thing. It would just be The X Factor consuming American Idol.

But I agree that if it were to happen (and that's a huge if that I don't think is ever likely) then it would have to be in the US. Fox is really the only broadcaster with enough leverage to do it given the size of the market they represent.

You obviously don't read the Mail or the Telegraph. It's wall to wall down series 4 coverage since the start ofSeptember. Series 4 is going to launch big.

The NFL Sunday Night Football (Channel 4 / NBC) has been stopped due to weather warnings for lightning strikes in Seattle.

The 30+ episodes show are sitcoms like Anger Management which use the 10/90 model which has had mixed success. I think it depends on the show, a procedural or a sitcom can easily have 20+ episodes a episode but as we've seen in the past, having so episodes can mean there is one duff episode for every two or three great ones.



I want to see an animated sitcom that isn't focus on a family and I also fear The Flintstones will just be a retread of what has been before and I imagine because WB is also involved, they won't be able to make it too adult like Family Guy.

I think The Simpsons might not be able to end anytime soon but I think the recent pay disputes proves Fox aren't afraid of pulling the plug if its gets too expensive to produce.

How's Channel 5 been doing without BB?

Jenny Cummins ‏@jscummins 36s
ITV Ratings: @TheXFactor peaks with 10.7m, averaging 9.6m.

Good for X Factor to be flat versus last week despite a much lower lead-in. I know lead-ins don't really affect the big shows so much but a lead-in does always affect a show's performance slightly.

ITV Ratings: Surprise Surprise series 2 launches with 5.3m, peaking with 6m. Vera was watched by 5m, highest rating drama of the night.

Nice numbers there, especially for Surprise Surprise.

4.3m (17.9%) for What Remains. Vera was 4.91m (23.5%) tapechecked.

Countryfile - 6109
AR - 5255
What Remains - 4268
Dragon's Den - 2214

Looks like my predictions for Surprise Surprise and Countryfile were bang on spot on. Not surprising Surprise Surprise went over 5million, it'll be back down to 4m in 3 weeks time when up against SCD.

BBC1 and ITV both had very good nights there. Countryfile was strong with no Corrie but Surprise Surprise returned well against it. Roadshow solid as ever and X Factor still going well. Decent for the 9pm dramas. What Remains got a nice bounce and Vera did decently for an 11pm finish.

Special mention for Dragons Den - 2.21m against The X Factor is really good going. It seems to have bounced back a bit this time. It returns early next year.

Some good ratings there for Sunday night. It is the biggest night of the TV week.

How did the Prince William doc perform?

Prince William - 2835 + 150k

Do you have Channel 4 "Paul" film so I can work out my rpg final score! Thanks in advance

Hi Mike, random request from me - do you have ratings for The American Football Show - Saturday 9am on Channel 4? Thank you!

Is "The X Factor" with plus one then? " Surprise Surprise" the best gain year on year. Maybe it shouldn't be going up against "Strictly Come Dancing" results every year.

The Mail giving the BBC bashing, Princess Diana 20 years on specials and what Samantha Camerons wearing this week a break for a Downton Abbey suppliment were they.

Probably gonna be its lowest launch to date if its anything like middle england "Doc Martin"

I think Surprise Surprise could do even better if it went out at 8 on a Sunday evening in another part of the year. It does its job at 7pm though.

@THRtv: 'X Factor' U.K. Ratings Rise as BBC Dance Show Takes Break http://t.co/tPXzcg10KG

Yep it looks like its been struggling against "Strictly Come Dancing" rather than having mediocre indifferent ratings. I thought it was one re launch too many for the audience but its actually being overshadowed by "Strictly Come Dancing" by the looks of last nights overnight.

Just two weeks to wait Samuel! Exciting isn't it?

Paul - 2843


TAFS - 109k

Interesting to read a very positive write-up about X Factor UK's ratings in DM today
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...ning-2012.html