Got home - opted for a recording of Toy Story 3 rather than Strictly. Fell asleep after ten minutes, woke up for the credits. Does that count? I'd imagine 3-7pm is prime nap time for many.


This ITV News bulletin could be the highest rated bulletin of the day - it's the only one in primetime and positioned nicely for soap fans. Surprised though Emmerdale had so few ads - the quota rules essentially give them enough ads for inclusion within Emmerdale, Corrie and Downton and not much else (or junctions between shows), but if they've had no ads in Emmerdale they obviously fell they're of more use before/after Downton and perhaps Corrie. A break between Corrie and Downton should surely help Doctor Who get a nice peak for the regeneration.

Corrie is starting at 19:28. Call the Midwife hasn't even finished....

Early start for Corrie to get the jump on DW - presumably CTM still on air?

Hopefully DW starts late so it overuns into EE's timeslot.

Predictions

BBC1

1815 Call The Midwife 5.8
1930 Doctor Who 8.6
2030 EastEnders 8.2
2130 Mrs Browns Boys 8.4

ITV1

1715 Paul o'Grady 3.9
1815 Emmerdale 5.6
1915 ITV News 3.8
1930 Corrie 7.7
2030 Downton Abbey 8.0

Tbh, b oth ITV and BBC should be ashamed for such an awful offering

I was expecting the news to still be on when I turned over!

I'm the first to moan about the schedules being lazy and predictable, especially on the BBC, but to be fair both channels are airing their highest rated shows tonight, and BBC from a mix of genres too.

No sneaky tricks by BBC1 so far. SCD started bang on 5pm, CTM bang on 6.15 and DW bang on 7.30. We know the episode is 61 minutes long (I think?) so it will barely run over; EE will be on air by 8.33 and MBB will start at 9.28 I predict, with MMS at 10.08pm.

DA is presumably going to start before the 8.30 junction to get the jump on EE - indeed, I would not be at all surprised if the ad breaks are arranged so that DA starts the minute Corrie finishes.

BBC1 is damned for showing SCD at 8pm, damned for airing it as an anchor for the night at 5pm....

The SCD Xmas show is easy filler - I'd rather it air at 5pm than 8pm, personally. I like seeing CTM shifted out of "peak primetime", but 6.15pm on Xmas Day is by no means a duff slot.

And why do you want that?

In order to boost EastEnders' ratings. The Doctor Who audience overflowing into EE's timeslot will give EE a much-needed boost, at least in terms of peak audience.

I really wish my house was one of those sit around and watch the TV Types. Instead, it's eat, and people come round and sit at the table and get pissed. The main TV downstairs won't be on all day.

I'll be upstairs playing PS4, and maybe catch Bear Grylls Wild Weekend on Channel 4 before the Ashes starts on Sky Sports at 10:30. There is nothing else that appeals to me on.

I think EastEnders will be fine anyway.
I can't see many people leaving Doctor who for Downton Tbh.

So you'd rather cheat just to beat ITV? Sad.

Me too.

I do so every year, regardless of the film. All that food and Peroni consumed in a short space of time is only going to end one way.

Bit of a gap now until the main programmes of the evening start. Just been browsing Netflix to see what's been added and I noticed that Tangled was put on a few days ago so might affect ratings for the ITV showing today slightly (not that anyone expects it do well anyway). And Downton Abbey was removed today.

Right, I'm off outside to build a snowman.

If it's coming down thick in Weatherfield, there must be loads up here...



Anything in Peterborough?

No snow at all here today
On another note the last time it snowed at xmas in Walford was 2006 when Pauline died in the square .

Sally Webster is trending in Brighton

20m surely!

Corrie's had a lot of warmth tonight. I can't belive they've made me emotional over a snowball fight

Midsomer on festive days

In 2004 ITV aired a Christmas themed episode on Christmas Day. It got 6.9 million viewers (consolidated data). The previous 2 episodes (october 2004) pulled 8.56m and 9.13m viewers while the following 3 episodes (January 2005) pulled 8.74m, 8.8m and 8.69m.

In 2008 they aired on Christmas Eve. It got 5.89m viewers. The previous episodes (July) were in low 7m. The following episodes (summer 2005) got 6.14m, 6.9m and 6.28m.

In 1999 they aired it on December 31. It pulled 5.87m viewers, down from 11.07m of the previous episode and 8.88m and 9.65m of January 2000 episodes.

Given past records, I would have expected a consolidated data (adding HD and +1) of at least 5.5m viewers. Let's see if it can do it

Doctor Who

Doctor Who Regeneration has over-run into EE's timeslot! Itv currently on a commercial break, mass switch over to BBC1 should ensure biggest peak of the day around now. Good work with the scheduling BBC1

Corrie off at 8.28 - we're now with 1 for EE and DW still seems to have a bit to go - we've not had the regeneration yet.

Can see the biggest peak of the night being now.

Should be a big peak on BBC1 now as Corrie has finished and soap fans will be turning over to EE while Doctor Who is still on. This may make DW the number one show today.

8.32pm and EE starts.

We are promised "a brand new stand up show from Michael Macintyre" at 10.05pm.