The backlash against Downton started back in series 2. Critics mean nothing. The viewers still love it.

I imagine ITV will pull out all the stops with promotions, documentaries etc to make people aware of it but I imagine with 2015 also being Thunderbirds' 50th anniversary, its probably best they hold back the new series until then. WETA is helping to create the series alongside ITV Studios so I have high hopes and at the very least, it'll look visually stunning.

I actually enjoyed the first edition of McEnroe's Chair! I soon got bored with it, though. I know the second series of Fame Academy was on Saturday nights, but I can't remember if any of the 2002 series was. I remember the performance shows being on Friday nights in 2002, because My Family moved to Thursdays, where it got interrupted by football.

Fame Academy aired on Friday nights in Autumn 2002 and Summer/Autumn 2003

I wasnt a fan of the normal Fame Academy, but the celebrity series was great

I think Thunderbirds is the programme that could become a hit for ITV as an early evening drama, for family and children. Similar to DW, if its popular enough and rates well it could become a merlin sized hit.

Yeah, I liked the sleb version, better then the dance thing they do now.

Edith Bowman actually winning and not being interested in a musical career was good.

If I recall correctly the first series of Fame Academy aired after EastEnders on a Friday night (before the days of the 8.30pm Coronation Street) with the live shows being broadcast from Shepperton Studios.

For the second series, they moved the show to Saturday nights... and also elected to air the shows from the mansion's (where the contestants lived) reception hall instead of Shepperton which basically altered it from a reasonable Idol alternative to glorified karaoke.

Fame Academy was always an uncomfortable watch whenever I saw it, because of the tension between Kielty and Park! The Comic Relief version used to get much better ratings.

Yeah, the hall was a little on the snug side for performing space!

Snug?! The acts were almost singing in the judge's laps.

Yeah, must have been a big budget cut for the second series!

Channel 5 are using the 'stripping' technique in their scheduling soon after this week's exciting CSI New York: Killing Spree Tuesday - Friday at 9pm experiment. I am excited for it, if you couldn't tell. Anyway: From Wednesday 2nd October - to Friday 4th, repeats of the latest NCIS finale and the two episodes leading up to it will go to air. Hmm...I do wonder what has brought on this use of this technique? It hasn't worked for Four too well recently, nor did it go to plan for Celebrity Super Spa on 5 last week. Well, I guess we'll have to wait and see how it goes this time around.

It didn't work with Super-Spa because nobody liked the show. Another turd from ITV Studios.

CSI: NY has been incredibly consistent at around the 1.5m mark in the overnights for this last ever season, even up against the daddy of the crime drama genre New Tricks. I think viewers will stick with it through next week. If anything the whole "Killing Spree" 4 night event (even though the episodes are, to my knowledge, not linked in any way) might bring about a slight ratings increase.

Lots of surprises at the Emmys this year. 5USA is going to have a hell of a time breaking that down into a highlights show. Especially since the Emmy voters spread the love around this year as well.

C4 have drawn a bit of a bust on their NFL games, dunno if this will matter in ratings terms, but Minnesota Vikings & the Pittsburgh Steelers have both started with a won 0 lost 3 games record, both teams have been really poor. So, 3 hours in primetime next Sunday then fellas!

Many congratulations to Downton for sweeping the board again at the Emmies.

well, one then, for best music.

the Yanks are tiring of it, evidently...

Oh dear, it's losing its sparkle. The Metro also commented that the former Emmy award winning drama returned with a 'whimper'. Just a reminder the ratings for the first episode of series 2 and 3 were: 8.9million and 8.6million.

My deepest symphathy - one hour of Downtown was enough for us and it will never darken our door again. Still be massive ratings though.

I'm definitely beginning to assume he is trolling.

I've never watched Downton Abbey, but I wouldn't rely on reviews as to how it'll rate. I still think it'll be in the 8 million range which will be good enough. 7 million wouldn't be end of the world as Samuel is trying to put across but it would be a bit disappointing.

X Factor is likely to have a weaker or stronger lead-in than the equivalent show last year - we don't know.

No, the first series was indeed on Fridays at 8.30 from October to December 2002. There were also shows on Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm featuring footage from the academy plus shows on BBC Choice and CBBC and from halway through the run an extra show at 11pm on Tuesdays with "unseen" footage. Whenever people talk about overkill of The Voice, I think of that series of Fame Academy.

Series two was from July to September 2003 on Saturdays around 6.30 and from August at exactly the same time as The X Factor. The first few weeks there were episodes on Wednesday at eight as well. No additional weekday shows that time but CBBC and BBC3 (as it now was) did their spin-offs.

BBC1 pretended they couldn't show series two at any other time as Friday night was now comedy night and any later on Saturday would clash with Casualty. But that was a lie because they didn't show comedy every Friday and Casualty was on its summer break. Terrible decision by the Beeb.

You can't rely on The Metro for reviews, that man hates all TV, he doesn't seem to like any programme, he is as just as reliable as you for judging what things are like.

With regard to By Any Means - I really enjoyed it but it is a retread of Hustle. Its preposterous but entertaining. Its really drawn the short straw schedule wise though. Cant understand why they would even contemplate putting a new show against an established monster hit.

Has GeorgeS left ITV and got a new job?

I said he hates all TV, not all TV except ITV.

Am I the only person on this thread who has never actually seen Downton ?