Basically abc1s are upmarket, rich, clever people. These people are more likely to watch challenging programs which require thought and concentration compared to the average viewer. Due to how rich and intelligent ABC1 people are on the whole, advertising companies like it if a program has many of these viewers because those viewers more likely to buy expensive products such as cars and luxurious items. BBC One and Two have many programs which are popular with this socio-economic section of society, while it's often stated that Itv is more for the working classes historically.

I agree. After a night out we came back and watched it on ITV2. Clearly I must have been more than a little bit inebriated to consider this a good idea. From the little I remember of it, it was not very good. I couldn't warm to the combination of judges at all, I didn't think they had enough chemistry as a foursome. And given they have made it clear numerous times at production level that the talent plays second fiddle to the judges, that's a problem with XF in 2013 that is hard to overlook or dismiss and will become even more apparent when they get to the live shows. I don't recall any earth-shattering talent being discovered either, for what it's worth. It was all a bit mediocre, stuff you wouldn't turn off on the radio but wouldn't buy the CD, that kind of thing.

That said, I'm not going to sit here and slate its viewing figures. In fact, this may be the last bit of XF related ratings waffle from me this season. Are they bad ? Of course not. Are they anything like what they used to be and will they ever be anywhere near as good as they once were ? No. Frankly there's not an awful lot else to say.

We know the clock is ticking for XF and its time will come, but it's doing enough this season to suggest that won't happen imminently. This news is rightly being welcomed by the few on here that are apparently desperate for it not to end, the very idea of something fresh and exciting filling ITV primetime on a Saturday night is too horrific to even contemplate (probably wise given their recent entertainment commissions). Its current viewing figures are simply not compelling enough one way or another in terms of knowing how close we might be to its demise, so it's quite extraordinary that so much needs to be said each week. It's getting the job done, for now, and that's it.

And there's the less nuanced version... The stars of Made in Chelsea will have a high social grade - are they more intelligent than the rest of us, I wonder?!

I didn't necessarily regard the ABC1 category as "rich and clever". I'm not rich or particularly clever but I still like thought-provoking intelligent programming. I would assume that the majority of programming throughout the five main terrestrials cater for ABC1 audiences. It would seem that specialist digitals cater for the C2DE categories.

ABC1 is not about "cleverness", it does not refer to that.

That "SamuelW" understanding of social class is something I remember reading about in "history of monarchy" class.

"CDEs, let them eat cake..."


But such discussions are for the Politics section I think...

I'm sure ITV will be thrilled with the fact that more rich, upmarket intelligent folk watched The X Factor last week than any BBC1 show. A challenging program which requires thought and concentration... I've been saying it for years but now the stats are there to back it up.

We have no UK measure of intelligence or education. Nielsen in the US provide stats on years of college education, but BARB do not. Nielsen are also a bit more "21st century" as they don't measure "social class" but household income. ABC1 isn't a guarantee of higher income or higher levels of education (let alone higher intelligence).

How ironic would it be if ITV did axe it and then replaced it with something which absolutely obliterated Strictly. Unlikely too, but still...

Never mind, I dont want to open a can of worms.

I would say there is more irony on ITV(1) (and even ITV2) than we currently see in a month of Saturdays on any BBC channel.

BBC channels and programmes are dumb, for pseudo intellectuals only I'm afraid.

Now we see the underlying psychology of some peoples relentless pro-BBC stance, BBC viewers are superior beings...

And yet, BBC programmes are frequently stupid. It's drama, documentary, comedy... Low-brow stuff.

The BBC is only matched in the general stupidity of it's programming by CH4.

If we're talking intelligence, X Factor walks all over Strictly.

Quite!


Not like you. You feeling okay?

In your own personal opinion.

Must be down to his last can! Is Samuel having a Michael OLeary moment?

Btw 800k for Celeb Juice last night repeat - nit bad for a dying show!

Your hatred towards the BBC is almost as cringeworthy as Samuels love for it.

Haha! 90% of this thread is nothing but personal opinion. Samuel and the other prolific posters can have 20 posted before breakfast most days!

Do either shows pretend to be intelligent? I thought both were just designed to entertain rather than educate? And, if intelligence is important why do you feel XF has some when SCD doesn't?

George, what are your thoughts about XFactor's ratings so far this season? Youve shied away from talking about it. Ok so far or disappointed that the ratings seem flat and probably wont be competing with Scd for Saturday night #1 spot?

They are there to entertain, but SCD takes it to a whole new horrid level.

It's doing fine. It's stable on Saturdays and up on Sundays. The overall series average will be up. The predictions last year were that this was impossible and that the series was going to be down by -20% again his year so clearly this isn't going to happen.

With theUSA version likely to be cancelled, just imagine that a Returning Simon next year will add 10% to this years figures.

Tell me, Samuel - does Strictly get to number 1 because it's the best thing ever, or because X Factor isn't on form? Is any success Strictly has completely down to X Factor not doing well?

It is doing fine. ITV will be more than happy. A lot of things, revelations and headlines can happen in a year. Simon Cowell might be confirmed as the anti-Christ between now and next August.

Not sure what Samuel will say, but why not ask the 13m who watched last years SCD final to see what they think rather than base it on a personal opinion. If you have watched an entire show of SCD to form that opinion I wouldn't believe that you meant it. Why watch a show you despise? If you haven't watched it, how are your opinions valid?

I watched it for years and enjoyed it. Then I woke up.

Who cares whether XF gets the No1 Saturday night spot on TV (apart from you, where you spend more time talking about XF than any super-fan on this site). I think ITV would be happy if it stayed over 8million for them to make enough profit in advertising, thus allowing them to make better programmes in the future (ala Downton Abbey, Broadchurch) as they have the money to spend. X Factor is now just a money making programme for ITV.