7.00m (exactly) is its highest ever overnight, but it should top that tonight. It was fantastic tonight, too.

PREDICTABLE REPLY ALERT!!

He would probably need to buy some new underwear first!

I'm predicting 15m+ peak for next week's final (TXF).

Everyone thinks I'm an ITV maniac too, I'm not. I just would like to see it challenge the BBC more.

Er, I never usually comment on Robbie Sykes' comments, but some of it has become a bit desperate, and for no reason. Robbie, your points are quite correct. The BBC have better programming & collective organisational skills than ITV. But ITV can still make a good drama, sometimes better than BBC1, and should keep to doing that with stuff that appeals like Lewis, Taggart, etc. Lets get away from the cheap contemporary tat.

Robbie, you seem to criticise Moving Wallpaper a lot, and I quite liked it. I'm not saying it's that clever, but it's something different, and it's a good idea. If it had gone onto ITV2 like suggested, it would've done much better. Same with Britannia High, it was just scheduled ridiculously.

BBC1 are rightly triumphing on Sunday nights, sorry to be dragging myself away from any focused topic, but yeah, Robbie is right when he says there is not a lot of choice on ITV, however he is wrong about the Panorama thing.

ITV had a two hour Madeleine McCann special, even though it wasn't great, and of course the One Man and His Canoe thing. They are dedicating more to factual, simply because it's cheaper, but they could make it work for them I spose.

I get infuriated with ITV's lack of ambition where there is such opportunity, simply because of how many people watch the channel.

I think, for once Robbie, you should look at ITV and think, how would you change it? Because I think it would be interesting to see what you, in all seriousness, would do, being realistic.

And with that, I'll do something on the same lines for BBC1 & 2, even though I realise they do a lot right, I'd change a lot too.

So, shall we do a deal Robbie?

Alot of what RS says is true but some of it is tongue in cheek to add spice to this thread, and I think it would be far less interesting without it.

As far as the BBC/ITV thing is concerned, well ITV have been forced into viewer desperation as a result of the multiplying of channels. I think it could be argued that ITV was as BBC as the BBC(arguably better) in the pre satellite days as it had a hugely wide ranging schedule.
Now ITV is playing the soap/reality/entertainment cards for all their worth and I think the Beeb are as strong as they have ever been-indeed there is no other broadcasting organisation in the world that does what the BBC does as it is now.I think we all ignore that at our peril.

Thanks!

Easily! 8 Million + I am hoping for could even be more! And I agree, was fantastic tonight!

ITV will be happy with News at Ten's figures this week, I'm sure.

Expect XF to be back down to its usual range this week. Hopefully still over 10m, but a history of underperforming semi-finals, lack of Britney(!), a different time and a 25 minute clash will ensure it doesn't repeat last weeks incredible performance.

Not sure that tonights result was good news for the finale ratings. It's all a bit obvious now.

I don't think the result tonight will make much of a difference to next week's finale rating. People will want to see the result no matter who's in the final, I'm guessing.

The final is petty much guaranteed to get at least 13.1m minimum.

I say this because every single live performance show this series is up by at least 15% on last year's equivalent shows. The average increase is actually 23% (excluding the 1st live show which had a disproportiante increase of 67%). So, in theory, The X Factor Final Performance Show should get 14.0m if there is a 23% increase on last year's 11.4m rating. And with new viewers tuning in just for the finale, you're looking at potentially about 14.5m viewers. Sounds ridiculously high, but (nearly) all signs suggest there will be a 14m(ish) figure for next week's final.

Talking of predictable finals, the most noteworthy SCD contestant with any razzmatazz or sparkle has just been voted out.

I really feel for the SCD finale this year.

EDIT: I dont think TXF will get 15m, that might be going a bit to far.

I'd say least, but there you go.

As in within SCD. Out of everybody hes probably the one thats caught peoples imaginations the most.

(might want to spoiler the gender)

Depends who you like. I thought it was a bit of an obvious result.

Right result - based on dances tonight. Think it is a matter that (x) was good early on & built up a fan-base who are going a bit 'ape' tonight. Not sure if support was as strong away from the rabid fanatics on forums.

See Simon is on plan to get his 'chosen one' - as announced by newspaper columnists two months ago.

Indeed, most of TV Burp tonight seemed to be a continuation of X Factor. I thought it had over-run when I started watching a recording of TV Burp earlier, with Dermot strutting about and Louis Walsh pulling a funny face "with hilarious consequences", apparently...

TV Burp is running out of steam in my view, and if there's any more padding and puffery of ITV's other shows, I can see it heading towards "on its arse" territory before long.

Taken from the TV Burp thread:


So there's very little support for your view that it is "running out of steam" it would seem, quite the contrary in fact.

And it appears The X Factor segment was popular - why wouldn't it be? TXF is the biggest TV show in the UK right now and with Burp sandwiched between the two shows it would have been ridiculous for Harry not to mention it, so naturally he took the opportunity to strike a chord with the likely audience and poke a bit of fun at the show. Not sure about "padding and puffery" as you put it.

TV Burp will probably hit new heights tomorrow, I am going to guess at 7.4m (33%), I hope I'm close, I don't know whether I'm overestimating.

I don't think X Factor will get as much, but I do think ITV will enjoy another good night. I think Sykes will be a bit surprised with the audience for British Comedy Awards '09, which I think should top 5 million viewers, as it's on in the right slot, and provides light relief in these awful times in comparison to Casualty. Lets be honest, when times are good we want something to bring us down to earth (depressing storylines in EastEnders, Corrie, Casualty, Holby, etc), and we'll be reassuring ourselves that we're nothing like those cronies, whereas now these cheap entertainment shows are doing well as we all need cheering up, a kind of balancing act you see.

I think I'll check out the DS Prediction Thread to see what people have predicted Burp & X Factor.

*Takes deep breath* I agree with Robbie regarding TV Burp - tonight's episode anyway. Last week was fantastic, but this week seemed a little on the slow side to me.

I don't know why Real Crime struugles, I always watch it and am interested in it. Think it's presented well, and tells the tale without sensationalism. Maybe that's the issue.

Strong figures for I'm A Celebrity last night. Have I Got News For You got hit the hardest, but I don't know why EastEnders struggled. Coronation Street held up ok.

Alright eveyone, i've been reading this thread for ages but it's my first post so hello.

Anyone else think the Comedy awards looked a bit lame. I've got a feeling that they won't do very well as when you have shows like The Katy Brand Show and The Inbetweeners winning theres not really the star quality there. If it does well it has more to do with The X Factor in my opinion.

I can see the X factor getting about 11 million last night but I'm starting to hope the ratings decline, mainly because I'm tired of hearing of how great Cheryl Cole is when she never really says anything interesting, and next to her Danni has become likeable (and I really never liked her) and I want Sharon back. I don't think the final will do much better than last year.

One final point, I agree with someone who said quite a few pages ago that ITV should lok at doing a type of Saturday Night Live. As long as they don't use the usual TV panel show comedians like Michael McIntyre (who seems to be on everything) and get big names it could be good. When I'm saying big names I mean Russel Brand big. That could do well IMO. They could use the young one of Mock The Week for some parts (looks a bit like the one of Skins and Britannia High, but I can't remember their names)

But most of those XF clips were used to ridicule it. It's hardly "puffery".

Compared with the BBC plugging Strictly and Dr Who all over the place (esp Breakfast)...and alienating those who don't watch them.

Harry dared to criticise SCD last week & Robbie was have a canary, such was his indignation. Now Harry criticises X factor and Robbie claims its "puffery".

Will the real Robbie take a step forward, as I'm confused.

Gaining across the week also. 18% share is quite respectable also.

Saturday overnights: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a1376...tly-knock.html

Is that the first time the XF results has beaten the performance show (bar a finale)?

Definitely got knocked down but still a strong performance. TV Burp did incredibly well.

BBC1 certainly benefited from poorer competition last night with Casualty up as half of it was up against TV Burp, though it still lost out to TV Burp by over 2 million! Never thought I'd see that happen! Outnumbered seemed to get a nice boost being up against The Comedy Awards which didn't perform particuarly well considering the lead in and competition.

XF may have been down due to the SCD clash, but it boosted TV Burp and gave it at least probably 1 million viewers who may have never seen it before. IMO it should always be the XF sandwich because it felt right last night with all the XF references. Also it feels more live even though it was recorded last week.

The poor competition in the 9pm slot seemed to boost BBC2, FIVE and ITV2 all getting excellent audiences. ITV2 3 times what CH4 was getting!