Regarding IAC, the ratings are strong but direct comparisons have to be amended slightly as I think last years launch show ran on Monday. There was a drop of about 2 million for Tuesdays show which is not always a strong slot for ITV.Sunday at 9.00 would attract a good audience as it was the launch show and Monday at 9.00 is always strong when ITV have the right programme.This year the Beeb dont have as many stumbling blocks to throw in the way of IAC so it could have a steadier ride.

I still think the stronger showing of X Factor and potentially IAC has something to do with their target audiences reluctance to spend money and go out in these skint times.

Oh and I wonder what percentage of the IAC audience watch because Ant and Dec present?

I like the imagine of Michael Grade as King Canute, but the boat race timings are more likely to be down to tidal conditions.

Brilliant George, simply brilliant. That beats any of my recent comedy efforts.

ITV should commission a new sitcom from you, my friend...


Now pulling 5m+ by the look of rzt's breakdown. That should guarantee a long second run. And given how low its early ratings are, will its imminent repeat run see it continue to build an audience and outperform TV Burp - the show that seems to have done more to boost HITW's ratings than any other? "Bring on the wall!"


Hmmm. Next you'll be telling us Coronation St starts at 7.34pm on Mondays and Fridays because of the phase of the moon...

Talking of repeats, I thought this was so good it deserved an early repeat airing:




It's not often you see something that funny coming out of ITV...

As a BBC fan, you should know all about airing repeats, Robbie.

Eh?

No, I just like winding GeorgeS up...

Why have they quoted monthly reach, I wonder? Could it be that the ITV weekly reach that everyone else uses is a tad less impressive?

Why not go for annual reach, then every terrestrial could claim a 99.9% reach!

K

As a fan of winding GeorgeS up, you should be used to airing repeats, Robbie.

No, sorry, doesn't work quite as well as the BBC fan one.

I admire the BBCs desire to provide material for Harry Hill. When the BBC said they were willing to support the independents, I wasnt sure this was how it would actually work out.

Pub quiz time:

Which channel screened the 2 highest rating comedy shows in 2008?

Congratulations, I think it worked.


Benidorm obviously...but why can't I think of the other?

The entire series consists of one episode repeated endlessly. Maybe if they wait for the pubs to empty it might add to its folllowing.

TV Burp obviously

BBC1 probably:

1. THE ROYLE FAMILY (25/12/08) 10.15m
2. MY FAMILY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (24/12/08) 8.18m

I have to ask.

How do you know?

Oh yeah. Thanks.

Though, if we're counting TV Burp as a comedy, surely Have I Got News For You must fall into the same bracket? And that's surely pushing TV Burp close (week on week average, anyway, if not top episode).


He must've watched them.

George, I'm disgusted in you!

In honesty, I really can't see My Family getting that, and is The Royle Family airing this year?

Yep, it's BBC1's big festive offering this year. If you saw the Children in Need "special" with the Royles, you will have seen their house decked out with festive trimmings - so they obviously did the CIN bit whilst filming the Christmas episode.

They also have laminate flooring now. Not surprising really, for a family that watches so much ITV1...

I have a mental image of George sat there watching The One Show 5 nights a week diligently noting its start and finish times, and then tuning in to Dale's Hole... every Saturday night just to see if he can say that something is exactly the same as last week's episode and slag off the latest non-entity contestants.

If it aired on Christmas Day, the other days are less extreme

BBC1 could air an After You've Gone Xmas special on Christmas Day and get 8m viewers, and then it'd end up going down in history in the top 20 yearly ratings lists

E4 are shifting Friends again, but for one night only. Next Monday it airs at 9pm with Hollyoaks Late stripped across the week at 10pm. But all other nights, Friends airs as normal at 8pm. It could be a very good week for E4.

Hells Kitchen is coming back and Piers Morgan's show will focus on one person per show like his previous formats. It appears to be aiming at being a more intimate but intense look at one celebrity instead of another parade of celebs welcomed on to say a few words about their latest book and crack a few jokes.

I assume Piers Morgan On... Dubai, Monaco, LA will be run in the 10.35pm slots? They have a package of celebrity travel shows which I would have been tempted to cut into half hour shows and run in the 7pm-9pm slots.

And Pushing Daisies is surely bound for a 10.35pm slot? Or else being shunted to the edge of the Saturday schedule?

I've heard bits and bobs all over the forum today about Hole In the Wall doing well in ratings?!

Could someone please tell me what the last few episodes have gotten please

Looking at the 5 minute ratings I could give approximate ratings (actual ratings are done minute by minute which we don't have).

01/11 - 4.5m (23%)
08/11 - 4.3m (23%)
15/11 - 4.8m (27%)

Of course, it seems to enjoy a substantial surge for its last 5 minutes... this week almost a million.

So I would suggest the numbers are slightly inflated by those arriving early for Strictly. But it's still doing well. I can only assume that the increase this week was down to a strong performance in the male demographic as Emma Rigby (Hannah from Hollyoaks) was on the show in tight lyrca.

Just as FYI for tonight:

ITV1
19:00 - Emmerdale
19:30 - England vs. Germany
22:10 - NaT

STV
19:00 - Emmerdale
19:30 - Lewis
21:30 - Harry Hill's TV Burp
22:05 - A Quick Getaway
22:10 - NaT

Ratings from Brand Republic

Assuming I wasn't the only one who found last night's bushtucker trial a big disappointment, that could be the reason.