BTW, how well do people think The Jonathan Ross Show will rate on ITV1 on Friday nights, 10pm, starting no doubt very shortly...?

It will lose out to the BBC Ten o'clock News, but should beat anything BBC1 put out at 10.35pm I would think.

Should do better than Al Murray. Perhaps the Beeb and ITV could do a swap?

I tend to agree but it shows how hard it is to get a new programme making any sort of impact thesedays, people automatically go to the series they already know

Maybe someone should do a Top 10 list of highest rating programmes listing only those that are new this year

Yes, that's right. 7:30-9:30 peak, then viewers switch off very rapidly after that.

It is a shame, because the 2 previous Monday drama premieres had been doing well (The Children/ Place of Execution). Nothing spectacular, but I expect that the overall picture from the 3 shows will be enough to convince ITV to continue with the tactic.

ITV actually have a good line-up of drama's overall, particularly their Sunday shows. But the problem is that they are ageing and they just can't seem to replace them. Nor can they find drama that appeals to younger viewers.


I'm actually struggling to think of many breakout successes. There might have been a few one-off hits, but in terms of major returnable series I can't remember any that really got great (6m) ratings. Ashes to Ashes did well for BBC1, but that was hardly a tough sell to viewers.

Apart from Wild at Heart and A Touch of Frost I disagree.

The way The Royal was treated last season, ratings declined for that, and Heartbeat ratings for some episodes were low-ish as well. I'm not sure whether to agree about your statement concerning Sunday shows.

Yes it must be one of the great mysteries where ITV actually keep the "golden handcuffs"-surely one day there will be an Indiana Jones movie devoted to seeking them out!
But if J Ross does leave the BBC, he will assuredly turn up on ITV after a period of silent prayer-in the same way that Peter Fincham ended up at ITV where one can make jokes about old peoples viewing habits without worry.
Ive always thought Ross was an overgrown schoolkid-and what he did to the blameless Andrew Sachs was childish in the extreme-but its daft for the BBC to apply sanction when he will just end up doing the same thing with added commercials.

So, how do we think Dead Set will hold up tonight? I hope it will stay above 1 million and I think it ought to be possible as it launched with 1.4 million.

E4 go back to a less impressive schedule next week, though. Mr and Mrs Smith on Monday and repeated on Tuesday then repeats of The Big Bang Theory, How To Look Good Naked and Wife Swap. They have a new show on Wednesdays at 10pm, Rude Tube, but it's just a cheap clips show. Then Smallville returns in 2 weeks. But apart from that, they have nothing of note until the Hollyoaks specials. I suppose that's the problem with spending so much on one show like they have with Dead Set.

Dead Set did fantastic. Hopefully it stays above 1 million.

Here are all the new programmes that have topped 7m this year. This list doesn't include sports events or movies:

1 - 8.04m - ASHES TO ASHES (07/02/08) - BBC1
2 - 7.69m - FLOOD (04/05/08) - ITV1
3 - 7.27m - LARK RISE TO CANDLEFORD (13/01/08) - BBC1
4 - 7.18m - I’D DO ANYTHING - THE FINAL (31/05/08) BBC1
5 - 7.15m - MERLIN (20/09/08) - BBC1
6 - 7.07m - LIFE IN COLD BLOOD (04/02/08) - BBC1

Not many new hits this year.

Is there a list of the top 20 (or 10) highest rated multichannel programmes for this year?

Also:

- Ashes to Ashes is a spin off to the already successful Life on Mars
- Lark Rise to Candleford was made with Cranford audience in mind
- I'd Do Anything was fullying the successful Any Dream'll Do
- Life in Cold Blood was from the already successful David Attenborough

Merlin is arguably aimed at the Doctor Who fantasy audience, but unarguably three of the top six are spin offs of already successful shows. Two - links can be seen to those already on air. Flood...disaster programmes always rate highly, and the programme was actually made back in 2006 as a film IIRC.

Bit of a shock about Out of the Blue!

Top 20 - Most watched Multi-channel programmes of 2008

01 - 2.58m - WITHOUT A TRACE (12/02/08) - Five US
02 - 2.55m - BIONIC WOMAN (11/03/08) - ITV2
03 - 2.49m - UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE: Chelsea v Liverpool (30/04/08) - Sky Sports 2
04 - 2.39m - FORD SUPER SUNDAY: Arsenal v Chelsea (23/03/08) - Sky Sports 1
05 - 2.35m - LIVE CARLING CUP FINAL: Tottenham v Chelsea (24/02/08) - Sky Sports 1
06 - 2.17m - BRITAIN’S GOT MORE TALENT (31/05/08) - ITV2
07 - 1.98m - THE COLOUR OF MAGIC (23/03/08) - Sky One
08 - 1.89m - GAVIN AND STACEY (16/03/08) - BBC3
09 - 1.86m - INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL LIVE: France v England (26/03/08) - Sky Sports 1
10 - 1.62m - THE CURSE OF STEPTOE (19/03/08) - BBC4
11 - 1.59m - 60 SECONDS (16/03/08) - BBC3
12 - 1.57m - LIVE FA CUP FOOTBALL: Barnsley v Cardiff (06/04/08) - Sky Sports 1
13 - 1.56m - GLADIATORS (11/05/08) - Sky One
14 - 1.54m - FILM: INDIANA JONES: THE LAST CRUSADE (30/03/08) - BBC3
15 - 1.50m - UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE: AC Millan v Arsenal (04/03/08) - ITV4
16 - 1.48m - LOST (17/02/08) - Sky One
17 - 1.46m - FILM: SHREK 2 (25/05/08) - BBC3
18 - 1.45m - EASTENDERS (06/05/08) - BBC3
19 - 1.44m - XTRA FACTOR (07/09/08) - ITV2
20 - 1.43m - ROSS KEMP IN AFGHANISTAN (28/01/08) - Sky One
= -- 1.43m - IAN HISLOP GOES OFF THE RAILS (02/10/08) - BBC4

Touch and go about whether Dead Set will sneak in.

I don't think the Beeb are in control of this one. The media (well, the Mail mainly) scent blood and Jonathan Ross has been a target since they mis-reported his supposed "£18m" three year deal. They want him out, and won't take this off page 1 until he's gone.

And ITV would be daft not to take him on. His show could be on ITV1 by Friday week, and then the Mail can complain about the BBC filling the 10.35pm slot with repeats for the next 20 weeks...

And Rusell Brand's Ponderland returns to C4 on Thursday as well.

It could be like the SCD vs XF battles when booking guests. Except the two of them will surely be competing to get Georgina... or should that be Voluptua on with her burlesque dancing troupe, the Satanic Sluts.

The dream ratings line-up for the next episode of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross must surely be Russell Brand, Andrew Sachs, the editor of the Daily Mail and a special live performance from the Satanic Sluts.

Will be interesting to see the impact on Ross's ratings on Friday. He got 3.9m in the overnights last Friday I recall. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets 5m this week...

If he's on, that is!

Robbie,

NOOOOOOOO!!

Firstly, JR has a contract to the end of next year. If the BBC "sack" him, he will be paid until then & would not be able to work elsewhere
Secondly, ITV dont need anymore loose cannons to cause repoutational damage.
Thirdly, the idea of swapping Al Murray for Ross is ridiculous. Murray is a very intelligent guy whereas Ross is just a shock jock.

They had Footballers Wives and Bad Girls but got rid of them

Deadset (inc +1) - 1.0 Million

This has become a real hit for E4.

Embarrassing Teen Bodies dropped to 2.88m.

Round-up on next page.

Tuesday 28th October 2008
C4
09.45- Will & Grace: 280,000 (inc. C4+1)
11.05- Charmed: 270,000 (inc. C4+1)
12.30- Wife Swap USA: 330,000 (inc. C4+1)
16.15- Deal or No Deal: 2.49m (inc. C4+1)
18.00- The Simpsons: 2.84m (inc. C4+1)
18.30- Hollyoaks: 2.00m (inc. C4+1)
20.00- Miss Naked Beauty: 2.12m (inc. C4+1)
21.00- Embarrassing Teen Bodies: 2.88m (inc. C4+1)
22.00- Neil Morrissey's Risky Business: 1.3m (inc. C4+1)
23.00- The Family: 627,500 (inc. C4+1)

E4
19.00- Hollyoaks: 805,200 (inc. E4+1)
19.30- My Name Is Earl: 321,600 (inc. E4+1)
20.00- My Name Is Earl: 375,500 (inc. E4+1)
20.30- My Name Is Earl: 361,900 (inc. E4+1)
21.00- Friends: 313,600 (inc. E4+1)
21.30- Friends: 462,700 (inc. E4+1)
22.00- Dead Set: 1.0m (inc. E4+1)
22.30- Fonejacker: 361,300 (inc. E4+1)
23.00- Fonejacker: 285,300 (inc. E4+1)
23.45- Skins: 144,900 (inc. E4+1)

More4
18.05- Deal or No Deal: 100,000 (inc. More4+1)
19.00- Property Ladder: 270,500 (inc. More4+1)
20.00- More4 News: 67,200 (inc. More4+1)
20.30- The Daily Show: 77,400 (inc. More4+1)
21.00- Bear Grylls: 125,600 (inc. More4+1)
22.00- True Stories: 39,800 (inc. More4+1)

Film4
18.45- Save the Last Dance: 170,500 (inc. Film4+1)
21.00- Hero: 291,800 (inc. Film4+1)

Source: C4Sales

A great night for E4 again with Dead Set still on the 1 million mark. Also it seemed to boost the schedule afterwards with Fonejacker getting as good ratings as new episodes have been getting and Skins getting a boost despite being on at midnight. Also I think the reason for the second Friends episode increasing is because people switched over on +1 after Dead Set (like me).

Another strong performance for Embarassing Bodies, but a little dissapointing for Neil Morrisey.

A very low share for ITV last night (16.5%) and fairly low for FIVE aswell for a Tuesday night (5.4%). It will be interesting to see figures for ITV's new daytime schedule, because it seems to be flopping looking at the shares, but I can't see why FIVE's share is so low. On the other hand ITV2's shares are back up this week (2.4%, 2.6%) and it seems the Bond films are definetely boosting the peaktime lineup.

I'm glad Dead Set held up I had a feeling it was going to drop to around 0.6m because people may have thought it was a one off or it was on weekly. It really does deserve its high ratings.

Breaking News banner-Ross is suspended. It will be interesting as to what BBC1 do with the Friday 10.35pm slot. I only wish Al Murray was still running as his show would have probably been boosted by no Ross clash for half an hour

Some ratings news from Brand Republic:

http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/85...ewers-BBC-One/