The thing is: Vicious had fairly easy competition for its series, which makes its ratings performance worse than it was. Competition from BBC One:

Episode 1: Crimewatch
Episode 2: Pirates of the Carribbean [repeat]
Episode 3: The Prisoners
Episode 4: Hillsborough documentary
Episode 5: People's Coronation
Episode 6: D-Day: Last Heroes

Nothing particularly big ratings-wise there from BBC One, mainly PSB documentaries. IIRC, BBC Two aired The Fall against it, but that was it really in terms of heavy competition for Vicious. With a Coro St. Monday night lead-in, it should've rated much better. If it can't rate well on a Monday night at 9pm right after Coro St, there's no hope for it - that is as good a slot it could get on a weeknight. Tonight's episode will rate a little better than those last 3 due to the xmas promotion it's had but for a regular series, it's likely a Friday slot for it would result in even worse ratings than the Monday slot it had because of fewer people watching tv on Fridays, a smaller lead-in from Coro, mroe comedy competition on other channels etc. Miranda by the way grew organically in an 8.30pm slot which is right in the heart of prime time. If the show has something going for it, the viewers will come.

It appears to be about a Scottish family living in Belfast. It's another Celtic crossover like Mrs Brown's Boys.

BBC1 Scotland opts out to show its own programmes every New Year's Eve. This year the opt-out starts at 10.15pm, but then there's not much point in them opting out of a programme about a Scottish family celebrating Hogmanay.

Doctor Who has really grown on BBC America, it has tripled its audience on the channel within a few years. BBC Worldwide IIRC didn't want it to go to BBC America as they wanted a channel like Syfy to air it, Syfy aired the first four series with BBC America repeating it but BBC America eventually got first run rights.

I think maybe another couple of SOAH specials at Christmas next year rather than a full series would be best - as others have pointed, it did very well within the context of Boxing Day but would flounder away from the season of goodwill.

To be fair, we won't know whether that astonishing figure for Still Open All Hours was inflated by being 'within the context of Boxing Day' or genuine interest, until we get a full series. The fact 28,000 people applied to the taping of the special shows that the demand is there. I'm sure the BBC wouldn't refuse it if the actors were up for it.

Good post.

You are correct that one story damaged the brand so much that I personally had enough of waiting around for improvement decided to quit the show, sad to say but I'm not returning as a viewer as too much time has past and I broke the habit but if it is improving then good because its payback for viewer loyalty for those that stuck with it.

I wish EE a good successfull 2014.

EastEnders ran 7:59-8:27 tonight despite no news update.

It's pretty inevitable that a series would rate lower than last night's Christmas special. It depends what the BBC's expectation for the series' ratings is. In this day and age an overnight of 5m and a consolidated of 6m is pretty good for a sitcom. Think how happy ITV and their supporters on the ratings thread would have been if vicious had settled at that level. Those figures would even be a good result for Birds Of A Feather.

I agree. Anything about 5m would be good for any comedy, on any channel really. I can't see it getting anything higher unless the Christmas special was higher. What last night's figure tells us is that viewers like nostalgia. That could work in Birds of a Feather's favour too (hence why I predicted 8.7m in the RPG). I don't think Vicious is a bad show, I think the concept is fine. The script is poor, that's the problem. I think tonight's Christmas special will get a decent 3.8m taking into consideration the ratings of it's first run.

Hi Dan Merry Christmas.

The difference is that almost everybody declared Royal Bodyguard a turkey after the first episode - certainly not the same with SOAH. There was certainly enough set up in the episode to easily bring it back including some things that could be running jokes and recurring characters and themes. Whether Roy Clarke can pull off a complete series is another matter.

First review of new SyFy drama Helix, to be shown here on Channel 5, seems very positive:

http://io9.com/first-impressions-hel...yea-1480372505

This could be a hit I think. I'm really excited about this one now.

Do we know when it starts yet?

Like everything it's going to take some time to gain viewers back.
Jan,Feb and March there is a lot of big storylines coming up featuring new and old Characters.

There is some new sets and little changes to come but DTC has re-built long running characters.

Carol and Dot both have big storylines
The beales have been re-built and have a massive storyline that runs from Easter to the 30th.

Sharon tonight was much like that older character we knew in the 80's/90's and upto 2006.

Like everything it takes time but viewers will return when they see the show has changed.

And you. Hope you had a good one

I wasn't aware of that, why was that the case? Because, surely BBC WW would realise if they air DW on a channel they own they could accrue maximum profit.

Not yet. A long wait until January 8th before that will be confirmed due to the way the holidays fell.

Two days later it will premiere in the US and we'll get a first proper indication of how shrewd an acquistion it might be but my gut is telling me they've done well here.

They need to stop with all the explosions and fires. How many have they had in the last six or seven years? It's ridiculous.

Is Vicious due back on screen next Autumn or filming next Autumn? SRO Audiences suggest the latter:

Does anyone have any consolidated ratings? Can't find any anywhere. Be nice to have some Live+2 ratings or Live+3 Ratings if some are released tomorrow.

I think we'll have to wait for the official Live +7 figure.

It was much better than Bodyguard. That said, the scripts for Bodyguard were decent enough, but the direction made most of the physical humour fall flat.

Thought Vicious was great tonight, so much better than I remembered. Glad ITV are sticking with it.

Agreed. What rating do you think it'll get?

Agreed, it is a great little sitcom! I hope it gets decent ratings tomorrow!