If any remotely successful BBC2 show is automatically moved to BBC1 there is really no role for BBC2 other than as a nursery for 1.

Daybreak looks really low now. It would be better if the regional news on BBC was at seven as the one show loses around 2 million from the regional news before Eastenders

I'm I right in thinking the BBC almost had a 50% share between 20:00 - 21:00 ?

BBC1 has completely ruined Masterchef in my view. A 'BBC2" programme if ever there was one.

Yes - 10.02m (46.9%)

I'm not sure when exactly Masterchef started, I'm guessing in the mid 80s, but it was a BBC1 Sunday teatime staple (often getting 10m a week), and I'm pretty sure it's spent most of its active life on BBC1 not BBC2!

Honestly, if it were to go on BBC one, the format would be bound to change - it's fine as it is, and it's fine where it is (even if it could get larger ratings on BBC one, but it's not all about ratings).

Agreed, and no way should it be used as a cynical ratings weapon - it's far too good for such petty nonsense.

The show is getting huge ratings, brings in viewers of all ages, sells loads of merchandise and does well on social media. Why would it need to be changed for BBC1?

Why do people keep saying this? It really winds me up.

There is NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER that any show formerly on BBC2 has changed its substantive content or format, or "dumbed down" in any material sense when moving to BBC1.

If you think otherwise, post some examples!

On the other hand, how many more viewers would it gain on BBC One? I don't think it would gain too many myself. It wouldn't all of a sudden double in audience.

Celebrity Great British Bake Off - Live! Presented by Brian Dowling and Rylan Clark

First off, I posted an opinion, and one based upon the general nature of BBC Two programming when set against the general nature of BBC one programming (especially such programming on a Saturday evening).

Secondly, you wanted an example - QI. Dumbed down for BBC one by all accounts.

And the thread to support that assertion:~
http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1444564

Informal apologies or retractions are acceptable Robbie

Indeed. Its probably at its peak and a move may result in perhaps a half million increase, maybe but enough people know where to find it and i would have thought its demo is smart enough to press 2 on a remote

Masterchef actually started on BBC1 in July 1990. The format was updated in 2005 by the original producers.Versions are produced in 35 different countries.

Great ratings for the British Bakeoff. Really impressive. It should probably stay where it is though; the people that want to watch the show are finding it easily enough where it is. Also the idea of pitching it against the X-Factor is ridiculous, if that were done it would lose viewers not gain by moving to BBC1.

The point is that BBC1's remit is to show programmes with a mass audience. BBC2's remit is to do something totally different.

That's what people here appear to be forgetting. It's not really about increasing GBBO's ratings. There is a point where a programme fits better on BBC1.

If nothing ever moved across what would BBC2 look like now? The Apprentice, Who Do You Think You Are?, Masterchef, Have I Got News for You - it would barely have time to bring through anything new or innovative. It might have great ratings, but it wouldn't be BBC2 as it is meant to be.

I do agree actually that Bake-Off on a Sunday night (on either channel) would probably work and despite it getting a lot of younger viewers now, would do just as well if not better than on a Tuesday. X Factor would be affected minimally I'd have thought, so if was to be done for pure agenda purposes I doubt it's worth the effort For the show itself, possibly.

But really, HOW many more viewers could it actually obtain anyway? I love it but let's be real - it's a gentle baking show! It's hardly going to be some 9-10 million performer, surely! Yes it has increased massively, but right now it's at the peak of its powers - and I've seen it on the cover of almost every TV magazine. You'd never think it was a BBC2 show with the coverage it now gets, that just happens to be its home. It's publicity couldn't really be any bigger.

I think for the small gain in audience you'd achieve by moving it, would just not be worth the risk. It has grown on BBC2 and will hit new heights this year. I doubt it would go as high as some people think it could (either where it is or moved) but if it does that, and it DOES surpass 8 million or so, then LEAVE it! It's never going to be much bigger than that...

I don't think 10 years ago people would have thought a ballroom dancing show would have been one of the biggest shows of the decade across the whole world.

So what if GBBO is about baking, it's clearly huge popular.

Bake Off is fine where it is, BBC1 and 2 can dominate Tuesday's where ITV are weakest, and ITV can dominate other days where BBC1 are weakest. Putting it against X Factor would be stupid, damaging X Factor and potentially damaging Bake Off in the process.

All this pit it against X Factor is just highlighting how bitter you are (Robbie) that ITV have successful shows. You should be pleased BBC2 have such a massive hit.

A baking show, on a Saturday night doesn't seem right to me.

It's fine where it is, like Top Gear. TG has pulled in figures of 6-7m in the past, yet I don't seem to have seen any comments that it should be moved to BBC One.

Biggest BBC2 rating of the year so far is 6.01m (20.4%) for Top Gear on 10th March. Should be surpassed by GBBO in the coming weeks.

4-nil to New Tricks so far in the Eastenders/New Tricks battle for supremacy.

A fair point, if that's what the channel is for, then that is "technically" what should then happen - but wouldn't that have happened by now? The boat's been missed to a degree.

The Sunday 8pm is a good idea but still a risk. It would have to be at 8pm on a Wednesday or Thursday, no? This is not a post 9pm type show. And Thursday would be against Emmerdale - damaging to both, I'd have thought, so basically not good.

Maybe the reason it's stayed where it is is because they know there is nothing better they can do with it and won't gain anything extra. It's not like some low-rating but quality comedy that could achieve a mass audience by jumping to the bigger channel and getting a brilliant slot. This is a show that has gained and gained and already feels perfectly positioned. They'd never swap with Holby so only Wednesday at 8 could be good.

Of course the other option is they skip it next year and show it Q1 2015 in a weekend slot. But again, that could backfire, as it feels autumnal...

There really is little decent argument for moving it besides saying BBC1 should have the bigger show as that's what it's for - but not at the expense of Bake-Off...

Agreed BBC2 can't stay the same (and I see nothing wrong with smaller channels acting as "nurseries" as long as the channel doesn't lose it's own identity) but this is the one time I don't think it matters. And in any case it still has Top Gear, so surely it's allowed the odd hit.

On BBC1 you'd have the normal bake off show, but twice as long and shown all over the place, followed later in the year by celebrity bake off, and then later in the year Young Bake Off. All presented by Nick Knowles and Alex Jones of course. You'd have live results and a phone vote.

If Bake Off did move to BBC1 maybe it is time for Masterchef to downsize and go back to BBC2, as it does seem increasingly tired and shoved in all over the place.