Solid enough start for X Factor. It's up comfortably y-o-y so you can't really ask for more than that. It should hopefully build on that tonight with more people watching TV and a healthier lead-in from Corrie

Unless of course BBC1's default audience is the one million watching TPGS. I agree with the poster who said it isn't as bad as Don't Scare The Hare, so am surprised it is doing worse than that ratings wise.

It's a show not many people care about any more. 1.37 million is pathetic for a show that once attracted over 6 million. It's the same old parade of z list nobodies played out to keep Daily Star and New journalists in a job.

Obviously this is the ratings thread and all that but increasingly it's like comparing ones turds with ones neighbours.

(Note to Channel 4, do NOT launch a new reality series based on that premise)

Both ITV and BBC are hardly trying to move television onwards, it's all very derivative and stupid and low fibre.

Never mind X Factor, that rating for Through The Keyhole is brilliant. I thought it would rate in the low 2millions even with an X Factor lead in. Lets hope it stays afloat at least above 4million for the rest of its run. ITV are looking at having quite a few well rating LE formats now including, Off Their Rockers, Catchphrase, Surprise Surprise, The Chase, Tipping Point among others.

So cutting all the crap (hence I've quoted no posts from SamuelW) that is a fantastic rating for Through the Keyhole - twice the rating I thought it would get. I suspect ITV are glad it premiered last night too - would be a tough call had Sir David Frost died a day earlier as to whether it would be right to air it or not.

Stepping Out about where we'd expect it, though I suspect ITV would want to be above the 4m mark. Agree Sundays 6.30pm would probably be a better slot to get it started, with the displaced Corries airing on Thursdays instead.

A solid but unremarkable start for The X Factor - certainly not really worth numerous pages of discussion.


And an incredibly poor night for BBC1:

5.15pm That Puppet Game Show 1.01m (8.4%)
6.15pm Pointless 3.2m (21%)
7.05pm I Love My Country 2.62m (15%)
7.50pm The National Lottery: Break the Safe 2.88m (13.8%)
8.40pm Casualty 3.80m (17%)
9.30pm Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow 2.31m (11.7%)
10.20pm Match of the Day 3.12m (22.7%)

BBC1 was indeed a poor showing last night. At this rate they might as well show Doctors, Perfection, Escape to the Country and Bargain Hunt. The ratings wouldn't be much less!

While it is summer it has to be said that there was a potential audience of 22m watching TV that evening.

I never understood why the previous BBC1 controller, Danny Cohen, was considered a success. He did nothing but coast and has left the new girl a bunch of joke formats.

Poor night, but BBC One on Saturdays isn't much cop. They used to be very weak on Mondays in the past, but it seems Saturdays have become their weak night now. Only SCD and DW seem to do well for them in peak time.

Perhaps the BBC should consider a Weekend Controller. Albeit in a temporary role. To start immediately they would liase with Charlotte but would be responsible for the commissioning of new weekend shows. Focus groups and professional producers should be consulted and formats devised around credible think tanks. The weekend controllers first priority is to restore BBC1 as the place that "owns Saturday nights". There will be a time when Strictly can't be relied upon and a replacement is needed. At present a SCD replacement is non-existant.

I read earlier this year that Talpa executive has been recruited to come up with original ideas for BBC1 primetime Saturday nights. So far there's a vehicle in the House Party style fronted by Michael McIntyre and a Blankety Blank style show called Rob Brydon's Celebrities in the works. Also another show where contestants can win up to £100,000 as they try and work out classic songs played from a giant jukebox called "Let The Music Play". All planned for next year.

Wrong hosts yet again. The BBC keep making this basic mistake.

The BBC seem to be focussed on "formats" they can potentially sell overseas rather than developing presenting talent that the public actually warm too.

McIntyre/Brydon are basically minority interest.

I wonder if Casualty would benefit being shown as an hour at 8pm each Thursday?

I think its evident that it has now outgrown the Saturday night slot. It might be an idea to try it back in its old home slot of the 80s.

Dougie Colon will be looking for work soon! Perhaps we will see him present That Puppet Generation Game!

Casualty launched in 1986 on Saturday nights as a replacement for the bloody brilliant Juliet Bravo. It moved to Fridays for a couple of years in the early 90's but has generally been on Saturday for most of its life.

I agree though, it has outgrown Saturday nights.

I have a lot of time for Danny Cohen in his time as BBC1 Controller. He's done nothing for Saturday nights though. All of this rubbish is his doing. I also think the light entertainment department have been equally poor. A bunch of middle managers not having a clue what the public wants. And why is Casualty still there? Terrible.

Danny Cohen was successful because he salvaged the channel from the self destruct status that Jay Hunt brought to it.

It seems to me the BBC are focusing a bit too much on drama commissions rather than the broader spectrum of new programmes

Just thinking about Saturday night, it seems weird to me that Musketeers is in the new Autumn trailer and not Atlantis. Can one of you kind people tell me when Musketeers is due to start? I thought it was next year.

Personally I think 'family drama', led obviously by Doctor Who, is a key factor if the BBC is going to rebuild a solid Saturday night. It's something ITV isn't interested in doing, it's a proper alternative and it brings in a young audience, and it's something they're good at, which LE isn't at the moment. Maybe I'm an oversensitive fan (yes I am) but I always felt the BBC acted like they were ashamed of 'Merlin', that it wasn't cool enough for them, despite its solid loyal audience. I hope they aren't going to do the same thing with Atlantis.

McIntyre has a lot more appeal with the general public than many current stand ups and TV hosts. His Comedy Roadshow rates much better than Live At The Apollo. It's a shame Roadshew isn't returning as Apollo has very limited appeal. They could have given it to Steve Jones or Alex Jones. God forbid! And who pulled off an amazing feat of having dated each other and yet had zero chemistry when presenting together!

Merlin was only granted an initial 10 part 4th series but they caved in to the producers who had convinced them that 13 parts was required. However, it was Merlin's creators, cast and producers who chose to end the show rather than the BBC who were ready to commission a sixth series. I'm not sure they were ashamed of it though. it did them proud against X-Factor. Atlantis is due to start on September 28th but is likely to have a week off on November 23rd when the 90 minute Doctor Who is aired. The Musketeers is due to air early 2014. Or at least that was the plan. Perhaps it will be brought out early to start on Saturday December 28th once Atlantis finishes so early 2014 at least will have In It To Win It, Casualty, Jonathan Creek and The Musketeers headlining the Saturday night line up.

Wow was it really Friday? I always thought it was Thursday. I was only a child but I remember when it was on during the week as my mother loved it back in the early days.

Not such a 4-5m banker after all then.


Eh? They're two of Britain's best-known active entertainers! Perhaps McIntyre is a bit marmite, but if you ask 100 average people on the street to name a currently-working British comedian, I can guarantee you at least 50 would say Micheal McIntyre, so I really don't see why this is being seen as a risk.

Even the name alone for The,Musketeers is enough to generate great interest from the public, potentially giving a minimum audience of 6million already.

It would make sense to swap it with the comedies on Friday night - and then use the Euromillions to fill the 10 minutes at the end of the hour. Comedy seems to rate well on Saturdays and though Casualty is a good partner for the Lottery quizzes, I do think with more entertainment based shows and drama like Merlin that comedy would suit the slot better.