Maybe he could take the SCD job?

F**** off

With them focusing on the aftermath and not the actual murder it would have been good to see them hold back the spoilers (like Hollyoaks have done) and have it be a real shock to viewers. I still can't see a long lasting boost though, and whatever it does get will be gone once BGT week, the World Cup and the summer take their effect.

I think that any of the potential presenters could equally be considered as "marmite", e.g. Norton, Barrowman, Knowles.

Claudia has done the show in the past, (albeit in the "Tess role"), and viewing figures were not adversely affected.

In fact, if I recall correctly, the two weeks she did when Bruce was absent last series showed an increase on the previous weeks' ratings.

Plus the Sunday night results' show, which she co-hosted with Tess, also drew terrific ratings for the BBC throughout its run.

There is also her long successful stint on It Takes Two to consider.

As I see it, Claudia represents the lowest risk option for the BBC with what is currently their flagship show.

The One Show: 3.57m (19.2%)
EastEnders: 6.47m (33.1%)
Masterchef: 4.62m (21.9%)
Parking Mad: 4.29m (20.6%)

3.16m for the Sextuplets doc on ITV via Uktvratings.

That's better for EE there after last Thurs unusually low rating.

BBC1 viewers love documentaries about parking. The BBC need to recomission that for a longer 10 part series. What's the point of making dramas when you can just film people complaining about the cost of car parking.

Don't you mean 26-part series Andy?

You could expand its subject matter from complaining about the cost of car parking, to complaining about the cost of train fares, the cost holidays during the school holidays, the cost of energy, and then whatever else needs to be complained about.

The BBC appear to be pandering to the Daily Mail reader with these type of programmes. But I guess it does provide value for money which allows the BBC to spend some of the money saved on new drama.

Jay Lee, nope you are not in the minority!
Scotch, I do not want Nick Knowles either. He is as charismatic as cardboard and maybe a good host on Quiz shows (debateable), he is not right for Strictly.

EastEnders was Thursday evening's top-rated soap (April 17) with Lucy Beale's penultimate episode, overnight figures show.

In the build-up to Lucy's tragic exit storyline, the Walford drama pulled in 6.47m (33.1%) at 7.30pm on BBC One as Ian was stunned to find cocaine in his daughter's jewellery box. BBC Three's repeat screening later had its highest figure since March 4 with 523k (3.5%) watching at 10.30pm.

Emmerdale attracted 6.1m (32.8%) at 7pm on ITV and 186k (0.9%) on +1 as Declan clumsily proposed to Charity. 5.55m (26.1%) returned at 8pm and 187k (0.9%) on +1 as the couple's engagement and baby news was revealed at The Woolpack.

Hollyoaks rose to 1.06m (6.1%) at 6.30pm on Channel 4 as Sandy was left in danger, while E4's first look continued to perform strongly with 883k (4.7%) at 7pm and 144k (0.7%) on +1.

Over on Channel 5, Neighbours had its highest teatime figure of the month so far with 889k (6.4%) at 5.30pm, while the lunchtime screening had 544k (8.4%) at 1.45pm. Home and Away grabbed 210k (3.0%) at 1.15pm, 561k (3.6%) at 6pm and 365k (2.1%) with 5*'s first look at 6.30pm.

There isn't much between Emmerdale and Eastenders even though Eastenders has a well publicised storyline

Really? That second figure for ED is terrible even the share is bad.

Or Eastenders and Reg Cox. Oh wait.

Tonights will probably be the figure to watch out for. I haven't watched in years but I will tonight, there might be plenty of others doing the same. Then again, there might not be.

I am watching tonight too but haven't watched all week

Talking about the first one.

Massive repeat figure EE on BBC 3. It's shame it doesn't somehow get included like +1 does, because it wouldn't look anywhere near as weak. Cumulative figures of 7m which isn't bad. Hopefully tonight's episode will be around 7m and a similar figure on BBC 3. BBC 1 share still holding strong at 33% though.

Emmerdale's first showing not bad, but second episode is terrible. That share is ridiculously low!

I suspect you'll be in the minority. No idea why the death of Lucy Beale would get viewers who haven't watched for years tuning in. Could be wrong though.

One thing never changes on EE, depressing storylines for the holidays.

Well, it is the holidays. BBC3 audience will be up later with no work/school/college today.

BBC One value is mediocre at best.

That dosent take away from the figure if people didn't want to watch it they wouldn't even if they do get to stay up longer. Plus you hit the nail on the head for why the BBC one audience is lower.

I think that my 6.8 prediction may seem rather high now considering the figures for "EastEnders" in the past week. I agree that Mondays episode is likely to see the benefits of the aftermath.

I would have thought old viewers tuning in would be on board by this point in the week if they are coming in to the story.

I don't think tonight's EastEnders will be up, the BBC Three showing might be high though, Monday's rating is the important one especially if they're doing a big promotional push over the weekend.

Decent for yesterday's episode, the share staying above 33% is a positive sign, hopefully it can do the same tonight. There are signs there's interest in the storyline, no drops week on week despite the other soaps having them and the BBC Three repeat is up.

Not convinced. It's still only 7M all together. Am I supposed to be impressed by that number? Because I can assure you I'm not.

Only a couple of years ago it was getting 8M at this time of year.