That's a surprise. All the other quotes I've seen seem quite conclusive. She certainly finds the show a real chore to write, hence the long gaps between episodes.

Incidentally, the BBC must feel cursed with sitcoms over the past decade. I'm not suggesting that they've done nearly enough to develop them - but every time they do manage to produce a big hit (and it usually takes a couple of series to build), they get to enjoy it for one short primetime BBC One series before it promptly ends! Gavin & Stacey went that way, Miranda is going and Mrs Brown appears limited to specials too.

They must really crave an even moderately successful (5m or so) returnable, probably team-written sitcom, which comes back year after year with full runs. Without such a show, it's almost impossible to re-establish sitcoms as a regular part of the year-round schedule. It's just a scattering of debuts, plus once-a-year festive treats from the big names.

Yes much like every show shITV shows

Still beating IAC tho which should also be higher (on first showing). 8m for a big show like that? The soaps have been down a while so it's no surprise their low ratings, IAC was getting high ratings just last year so it's bad.

For some reason, these days you have to be a performer to get your sitcom on tv.

So, Mirada Hart writes Miranda, Adil Ray writes Citizen Khan, Lee Mack writes Not going out, and Brendon O'Carroll Mrs Bowrns Boys.

There must, surely. be one or two John Sullivan's out there- if only someone would give them a chance- rather than a lazy 'He's popular, Give him a series' attitude we have now.

Given up on IAC! Poor cast, know about 2, 3 max of them, the tasks are shite this year, Ant & Dec are not even funny no more. Missed a few eps and not even bothered to catch up..

He's very good as Tony Hancock in the BBC biography alongside Maxine Peake as Joan Sims. I think maybe one of his finest television performances but again has many traits that Ken Stott can play. But I agree there is a similarity in most roles he is offered on television at times.

I would agree that there are some channels in there that shouldn't be there. I watch Challenge sometimes but I don't think they need to bother listing it because the schedule's always the same and I don't think RT readers are that bothered. For the kids' channels it's a bit different because kids themselves probably don't read them so it's a bit of a token gesture which is more of use for parents.

As for Milkshake, in Ireland RTE's kids strand, which used to be The Den and is now RTE Jr, has a slot in the EPG even though it's just a simulcast of RTE2, so it can go in the kids section. I wonder if C5 have ever considered buying an EPG slot so Milkshake can appear alongside the other kids' channels. There'd have to be some technical jiggery-pokery so it doesn't simulcast the rest of C5, probably.

Disagree. Missing is far more a one off. It is a story of the aftermath. It is the storytelling which is holding people in not the characters. Nesbitt character is hardly someone folks will rush to see other stories told about. I'm no fan of Broadchurch returning and have no idea of the script but it was far more 'identifiable' character led. The fallout from the first series can make a drama. People cared for the characters in a way that made it more readily suitable for a return.

IAC for me is hitting the territory it hit a few years ago. It is lacklustre and folks may finish what they started but there is a danger of folks not bothering next year unless there is a far better cast and a reboot. IAC was on fire a couple of years ago but it is fading. Ant and Dec are phoning in their performance as well but they are nowt but genuine. They can't get too excited either!

It's peaking at 8m on Saturdays already

I think a festive afternoon special would be just fine and I'd love them to call it Pointless Celebrities at Christmas. Perfect. I wouldn't even need to watch to derive satisfaction from it.


Thanks. Nothing surprises me with BARB these days.


Nowt so surer. The missus was going to get tickets until we saw they were £62 each!! We decided that as it will no doubt be a staging of existing material from the original series (Kay write something new?) and broadcast for Comic Relief, we wouldn't bother.


Ooh how exciting. They must be good given the continuity excitement on Saturday and Sunday.


The clue is in the title. I spotted early on that "The" Missing suggested more than one person was missing (only one in a truly literal sense) and that has proven the case on a number of levels in the series. Even if the kid is located in 2014 at the end of s1, there's bags of scope for a follow up series with a few story themes to carry on. There are essentially 3 main character families affected by loss and betrayal and peripheral ones too. And 8 years on the kid might not want to "come home" or still be "missing" if he did go back (to his alcoholic violent dad or his remarried mum?). Plenty of scope for at least another series!

Wonder if the other 10 million viewers feel the same.

I felt that Miranda wouldn't be back for a series but thought it would be back for occasional specials. Everytime I've read comments from Miranda recently she's been veryfinal about their sitcom.

"@mermhart: Off to the studio for final sitcom record. Not looking forward to my last look to camera. Think I will be MOIST eyed."

Homeland is probably a better example than Broadchurch of a perfect one series drama brought back.

Or perhaps Life on Mars which could have been a one serieser had it bombed but in effect ran to 5, reinvented with a new joint lead, title, setting and era. (I recognise there's an element of 'Trigger's broom' there! )

Sam Hodges ‏@Sam_Hodges 12s12 seconds ago
Great peak audience of 10.6m for last night's #StrictlyComeDancing on @BBCOne #SCD

UK TV Ratings ‏@TVRatingsUK 5s5 seconds ago
Sunday night ratings:
#StrictlyComeDancing - 9.94m/41.3%
#ImACeIebrity - 9.46m/37.2%
#TheXFactor - 7.95m/31.0%

The ratings thread ITV spin doctors are clearly struggling this morning.

Remember XF getting 14m? Complacency can be dangerous. Suspect Ant and Dec are far more atuned to the issues.

There are stories today that a third series of Broadchurch is being considered.

"@overnightstv: 2nd ep of #RememberMe drew 4.3m/16.8% up against strong opposition from #ImACelebrityGetMeOutOfHere"

Thought it would sink like a stone. Shame, it's compelling and intriguing, if a little silly and heading for a damp squib ending I fear.

Any news on how it has been consolidating?

Fantastic for SCD and IAC.

At least X Factor is up on Saturday but I'm still shocked to see it rating under 8 Million for the results.

Last year's was still rating close to 9 Million no?

Which will be no doubt be perfectly fine for those people complaining about The Missing getting a 2nd series.

I take your point but your never gonna get 14 million in today's fragmented audiences. So to compare audiences of yesteryear to now is not really any indication of its popularity last night. Viewing figures have decreased across the board since the heights of "The X Factor" pulling in massive audiences. It was ITV's highest rated show, so I don't think they will complacent about a show that brings in such a high audience for them. 'Strictly Come Dancing" audience has declined also but I don't see any signs of it being complacent either. I think the days when shows hit 14 million are difficult to achieve now.

I'm enjoying it and has some good scares. Remember Me might drop more against the I'm A Celebrity final. No idea how it's consolidating as Yog hasn't been around. Hopefully it does well.

Thats a shame but in the overall scheme of things not that bad.

I bet they wont struggle for long though !!!