Masterchef is a consistent performer but I think if they added too many episodes, it would end up hurting it long term, the Australian version airs six days a week which is way too much. Plus there's Celebrity Masterchef and Masterchef the Professionals on BBC Two although I'm not sure how that'll fare without Michel Roux Jr so the main Masterchef doesn't need more episodes when they're two spin-offs.

Busy week 23 for Channel 5. Due w/c 31st May:

* Big Brother: Power Trip live launch;
* New dating show Stand By Your Man;
* New season CSI: Crime Scene Investigation;
* New series The Dog Rescuers;
* New series Angry Britain;
* New documentary The McCanns and the Conman;
* New documentary Illegal Immigrant & Proud.

Masterchef has been very good for BBC1 and will be missed now its over - its the sort of thing ITV are unable to do it seems.

Stand by your Man I'm guessing is post BB, I don't see it doing well at all, good to see CSI return. the &Proud strand returns which is unsurprising considering how well the strand did last time, not sure on how the other series and docs will do, Angry Britain has potential, the McCann one sounds tacky

Any new film premieres that week?

ITV Studios have Hell's Kitchen but ITV seem reluctant for that to return, do that as a weekly series with Ramsay returning and contestants and I think it would be a decent hit.

No, not that I can see.

Assuming Stand By Your Man gets a lead-in from the BB live launch, there's no reason why it can't launch reasonably well. The first episode is on the press browser so I'll fire it up in a minute and report back any findings. Low expectations though.

I was not necessarily meaning a cooking show as such but anything that would be on several times a week for several weeks and average just shy of 5m.

How about I'm a Nobody Get Me Out Of Here on ITV? That may work in the summer with Ant and Dec.

................Hooray! My time has finally come

Emmerdale annoucement at midnight apparently concerning a guest star for one episode.

Let's see what it can do for the ratings.

They broadcast the guinea pig version of IAC one year on ITV2. I'm surprised they've never made more of it if they have to do it anyway.

Hope its not Boris Johnson - AGAIN !!!

I think the fact they have something almost nightly in the autumn for 3-4 weeks getting shy of 10m is probably preferable to ITV than something like Masterchef. Sadly that's just schedule filler now for BBC1 - it rates well enough but it's presence in the schedule doesn't really do anything - it's not a landmark show for them and although it would rate lower on BBC2 it would probably be treated as a bit of a bigger deal.

Why are you downplaying Masterchefs success? A show which gets 4m+ against the likes of Coro and EmFarm is not just 'filler'. It is a successful programme which has been winning its slot almost every episode. It has been damaging the Itv soaps quite a lot in the ratings and this final week has averaged 5m+ so far. It might not be as big as Im a Celebrity [hardly any shows are], but it is a very important format to the BBC and I can guarantee that Itv would love to get their hands on a format like MasterChef which would get 4.5m across 24 episodes with good demos against difficult opposition. BBC One is the right home for MasterChef, not BBC Two.

Paul O Grady?

Did he guest in Emmerdale? He had a stint in EastEnders.

Cant see what you mean actually. Comparing Masterchef to one of ITV big hitters is pointless.
Masterchef is outrating almost all the ITV LE shows aside from their big hitters and is far from schedule filler - and what it does do is bring 20+ hours of c.5m ratings in a returnable format which I am sure ITV would love.

Again? I never knew Boris did Emmerdale.


I have no idea. Was just told there's an announcement tonight.

MasterChef is rating better than every Itv light entertainment format besides XF, BGT, IAC and SNT. I bet it's much more cost-effective than many of their entertainment shows too.

Forgot to mention yesterday: Big Star Little Star is doing poorly this series, down from last year. Seems to be following the same trend as every other itv entertainment show this year, all down from last years ratings.

Thats what I was referring to. I think you know there is trouble when shows start with gimmicks - although I dont know who/why in this instance of course.

Ok...will keep my eyes open


Well Hollyoaks must be in serious trouble

Good Lord it's Victoria Pendleton on Emmerdale!

http://showbizsecrets.com/a-celebrit...tvs-emmerdale/

Fairly unremarkable name. When you mentioned it, I thought you were hinting at a big name actor. Pendelton's 2minute appearance wont make any difference to EmFarm's flagging ratings.

Oh....
Better than Boris Johnson but no-one to get excited about really.

It will no doubt be advertised. So which is it? hour on Tuesday or Thursday. Place your bets now!