Why would they start it in mid August? I know they have in the past but it hurt the figures. And the BBC started the reality show creep by Strictly having Friday night episodes due to a bulked up cast. It's getting to the point where they're trying to outdo each other in taking the mick.

But a few years ago it was starting in mid-August and the early episodes were rating pretty poorly because it was the height of summer and everyone was on holiday, so they've moved it back to start right at the end of the month. But that means, if they're keeping the format as it is, there are more episodes to show in a shorter time. So swings and roundabouts.

That might have been the plan, but it didn't work out:


Looking at MediaGuardian's report on the overnights, it seems the earlier show outrated the later one on that measure too. The whole extravaganza averaged 10.9m (46%) over the scheduled slot of two-and-three-quarter hours with a 15-minute peak of 11.9m as early as 19:30. Michelle McManus won which caused Pete Waterman to storm out, says the article.

It also says the average was -2.2m down on the audience that saw Will Young unexpectedly beat Gareth Gates in the final of the first series, with the peak down around -3m. The series was then axed and The X Factor was born, which as we remember prompted a notable court case.

Here's an interesting bit:


What a bizarre idea for a Saturday night.

"Pop Idol hits a false note"
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/dec/22/overnights

Just watching the repeat of Gogglebox on C4. Have never seen it before. What the hell is the appeal of this vile programme? Bring back TV Burp! A classy, and endearing show. Gogglebox is artificial, staged and full of vulgar people. Yuk! What the hell has happened to British television?

No, done quite a few such shows and possibly one on Channel 4 at some point but that particular chat show was on Sky.

Back when Sky was very young. And so were we.

Thanks to the other posters for info on those 60s shows.

I didn't get the massive appeal of "Googlebox" either, yet its gone down a storm with critics and viewers.

Last weekends figures for SCD/XF

Friday 26th Sep
SCD 6.53m (28.5%)
XF 5.28m (23.3%) +570k = 5.85m

Saturday 27th Sep
SCD 8.18m (39%)
XF 7.34m (32.2%) + 514k = 7.85m

Sunday 28th Sep
XF 8.50 (35.4%) +467k = 8.97m

Averages (2013 in brackets)

SCD 7.36m (8.46m)
XF 7.56m (8.66m)

Yes Iv said that before and I think its generally accepted that Alun( and his screen wife) carried the majority of the lighter moments-even if he was an intermittent alcoholic himself. Have to say though-even with the original cast-I didn't think they put enough comedy into it-I actually think the show could have been bigger than it was.

Agreed about the Nicholas Lyndhurst character. From what I have seen he is too dry and bland-somehow there is very little spark between the four of them.

All the scripted reality shows are the same and I dont get them either. The excuse always quoted is that its ok because they are entertaining !!!

Well were you entertained? No me neither.

I'm afraid I turned it off. I was dismayed by the hypocrisy. One woman complaining about Gordon Ramsay swearing, then proceeded to use the same swear words herself. I am now going to make myself a cup of hot chocolate and then I will pull my fingernails out.

I only watched one to be fair so maybe it wasn't a good episode. But I was trying to see why viewers had surged to this format and someone told me it was really an excellent show. I thought it was just really quite an ordinary Channel 4 show that wouldn't be out of place in daytime. But its multi award winning! Its got a good rating to some of BBC one Friday evening comedies too.

Thinking about it it really is quite extraordinary that ITV dumped Pop Idol (and after only two series) for The X Factor. This is like if they'd won the rights to The Voice just ditching The X Factor and going with The Voice instead. It just seems like it would never happen now. Although I suppose back then they had the comfort of knowing that if The X Factor bombed they could always have the triumphant return of Pop Idol the following year.

That must be the longest show ever? Ridiculously long imo and I think it will affect its rating as well as going to 10.00 and having a 60 minute overlap with SCD. Much counting against - but we also have the live-re emergence of Cole and Cowell which may deflect some of the negative aspects-at least on the first night. Fascinating ratings on Sunday morning.

I was thinking the same reading the article. But there was a confidence back then just to axe something, now its allowed more time just in case its a hit. I don't think "Splash" would have seen the studio floor had it been pitched back then.

Was just going to say that I have enjoyed EE the last couple of days and then I find that apparently there is another *HUGE* EE announcement at Midnight. These do my head in - we do not need them as they only ruin the suprise.

Do you think the actors and writers are given enough time though. Some of the acting is very poor and dialogue clunky. I don't remember it being so over acted and like a parody of itself before.

I don't know about Splash ITV did make the likes of Celebrity Love Island and Celebrity Wrestling around this time as well. I suspect it just would have been called Celebrity Splash or Celebrity Diving instead. And there's always just been those shows and formats that make it onto air and you just wonder how anyone thought it was a good idea (that weird rugby celebration show that followed the Pop Idol final for example, seriously what were they thinking?). It was certainly an incredibly confident move from ITV to ditch Pop Idol though its a confidence and risk taking that they might benefit a little from now.


To be fair EastEnders has been quite good at keeping surprises under wraps lately. Most of their big announcements have been casting news which they couldn't possibly have kept under wraps anyway. At least this way it makes it a bit of a big deal for fans.

Peggy is returning!!!!!!! I bet Peggy is returning!!!!! Last Thursday was a set up for Peggy returning!!!!

Of course its multi award winning - its on Channel 4 !!!

2 flies crawling up a wall for an hour would win an award on 4.

God I hope not. Her brief appearance last week was enough to remind me of why I was glad to see the back of her.

But not with actors. It took years to have actor/actress sitcom categories separate to entertainment performance.

I think Keeley Hawes will be nominated but Sarah Lancashire and Sheridan Smith are the frontrunners. Gillian Anderson wasn't nominated for the first series of The Fall. I think she deserved to get in. She might make it this time.

As for Supporting Actor I wouldn't rule out James Norton for Happy Valley. There will be some very hotly contested categories next year.

Thats true actually - they do seem to be trying.

Oh yeah forgot about him! Mmm wish we had "The National Television Awards" in October again!!

Be interesting to see what James Norton does with "Grantchester" he showed great promise as a star in "Happy Valley" but was outshone by Sarah Lancashire, I would like to see what he can do as a lead.

Wasn't ITV's transition from Pop Idol to X Factor Cowell's doing? That is, he was seen as instrumental to the success of such a show and he gave them an ultimatum?

I might be getting confused with American Idol when he stopped being a judge and started X Factor over there.

There's a midnight announcement? I wonder if it's character or plot?