You get the feeling that Eastenders just need that big storyline before they'll top Corrie's ratings and despite all the excellent changes DTC has introduced, there doesn't yet seem to be a big storyline bubbling under. Maybe the fact we've seen so many departure storylines (at least half a dozen characters) and so many new characters that was enough to sustain viewer interest but the market, Ian/Denise, Masood/Shabnam and even Carol's cancer (old soap storyline) won"t generate the buzz the show needs to catch Corrie.

Potentially Stacey's return might have a bit of a knock on but it'd be good to see the sings of a big storyline emerging.

EE is now very close to Coro, only about 0.5million behind yesterday. The EE ratings revival is happening, within the next year it could move ahead of Coro which is facing a ratings problem of its own.

EE is rising a lot faster than I expected. The revival is in full swing now. One huge storyline and it will probably edge above Corrie. Who ever saw this coming six months ago?!!

Which could explain the fall in overnights for one and the rise for another.

I think if a low rating episode of Corrie is still 0.5m higher than a high rating episode of EastEnders there's still a long way to becoming the top soap. People do really get ahead of themselves sometimes.

I don't think anyone is getting ahead of themselves. Not too long ago Corrie on a good day was almost 3 million viewers ahead of EE. So for it to be on average just 0.5 at this point isn't to be brushed off.

EE really is regaining an audience while Corrie must be shedding viewers.

It isn't "on average" just 0.5m up though. Last Monday it was 1.2m ahead and on Friday 1.3m ahead. Corrie also timeshifts more.

Give that multiple trailers have been made for Stacey's return as well it's not exactly a surprise that EastEnders seen a slight rise last night. Corrie's random dip just makes it look a lot better than it actually is.

Corrie is dire at the moment (Stuart Blackburn working the same 'magic' he worked at Emmerdale), and while EastEnders isn't perfect you at least feel like there's a lot effort being put into making it entertaining.

Corrie is very unimaginative right now I'd say. There's no real exciting storylines and that's reflected in the ratings. All it needs is a big storyline that can get it back up to 9m+ in the overnights. I have no faith in Blackburn to deliver one though.

No doubt in a few months time it will be Corrie in crisis headlines as the soap dips in the ratings. Problem is, between big storylines, soaps tend to plod on and for weeks nothing can happen. However, there is little else that can guarantee BBC One and ITV at least 7 million viewers four or five days a week.

.......if you add in the 3 repeat its even closer. Certainly word seems to be spreading around press and public that EE is not the "dreadenders" it was.

We've got the coming up in a few months, but at the moment it just seems to be extra-marital affairs and overly contrived drama (Roy going missing, last seen by the canal). Even Hayley's death, which should have been a real dramatic highpoint (if that's the right word to use), was diminished somewhat by being given the same 'assisted suicide' angle that Blackburn used in Emmerdale.

is the only thing coming up that should get some good figures. Other than that I think the show's in for a rough year.

I get the impression as well that the storyline is pencilled in for BGT week so it should get an extra boost from that, but I think you're right - overall the omens are not good for Corrie in 2014

Indeed. Time will tell though I suppose, something has to replace the affair when it ends.

Great relief about the Immigration thing failing, particularly as it was so hyped by all the Desmond 'papers. Stop giving Katie Hopkins a ****ing platform TV, it's got beyond excruciatingly boring now, she just says anything to be divisive. Not interesting.

To be fair when was Staceys return it seems to have been going on for weeks and so far she has said about half a dozen words - dont think the audience are psychic. Maybe it will pick up this week.

Yes Hollie. And that was already well after the schedule deadline. But this thread isn't especially keen on facts.

Has Corrie always timeshifted more than EE? I was surprised due to the popularity of BBC Iplayer.

One thing I've been wondering, the first ever European Games (Europe only Olympics) are being hosted next year in Baku, I was wondering as its an IOC approved/supported event if that means the BBC will automatically qualify for TV Rights? If not would this be something C4 would likely go for?

Or, if they are unable or unwilling to record, they can watch the narrative repeat of Top Gear, as 1.3m/6% did on Saturday.

Certainly will be interesting to see who gets the rights. It will more than likely be the BBC but I wouldn't mind Channel 4 getting them. Their sports coverage gets a rough ride (or at least I think it does) but I really think they're a very underrated sports broadcaster.

I still have nightmares about Ortis Deley on the Athletics.

"Jessica Ennis. Good night."

They did a good job of the Paralympics though and I wouldn't object to them getting in on the Baku action.

EE usually timeshifts 600-800k but CS well over 1m. These are mostly recordings - Iplayer views dont count as yet.

BBC iPlayer views through TVs like with Sky/Virgin set top boxes are included. EastEnders was adding 1m before Christmas on occasion.