Maybe (from another viewpoint) it does carry some viewers? Indeed, it likely that it probably does. Simply moving something else into its place could damage DW in that respect, and the new programme might not have a larger carry over audience anyway.

If the BBC are trying to provide a balanced schedule (in that there's something somewhere for most people), then maybe it's foolish to be trying to capitalise on any supposed audience carry overs IF (a big IF) that first audience does not cover a sizeable cross section of the evening's audience.


Leaving that aside, as both a Strictly and DW viewer (watching live for both programmes), i think that DW viewers would see it as a downgrade if it was to be removed from the all-important Saturday schedule, regardless as to the "overnights are not as important" argument. Especially when few other recorded programmes are as consistent as DW in delivering the "as live" viewers (does any other recorded Saturday programme do better than DW these day, when we know that viewing is generally down across the board apart from a few very notable exceptions?)

They filmed nine episodes - eight regulars and a Christmas special. The Radio Times does say "taking a break for a few weeks" so I assume they're going to be shown eventually.

Apologies, I did correct myself later. That second paragraph was about Gotham, not Grantchester.

Citizen Khan should run until 19th December with its six-part series and a Christmas Special.

Not easy to see where Would I Lie might reappear. Saturdays at 9.40pm when Strictly shortens, maybe.

The British Comedy Guide has it down for six episodes - is there definitely a Christmas special? Accommodating a week's break for CIN would take six episodes to the 19th December.

They probably cant get past 5.

Yes, they did seven episodes, so...

31st Oct, 7th Nov, 21st Nov, 28th Nov, 5th Dec, 12th Dec, 19th Dec presumably.

The big question is why have we to suffer the abonimation that is Citzen Khan for any more episodes.

Thanks for clarifying this for me. It does seem mystifying as to how they're going to accomodate one normal episode, the outtakes show and the Christmas special if the Radio Times is correct and we'll be waiting a few weeks for the former two.

I wondered if they were trying to keep Would I Lie to You away from Not Going Out, thinking a double serving of Lee Mack wouldn't help either programme? Just a guess.

I've not got on with this series of Doctor Who at all, though last week's was the best so far, but I think it should stay in the prime slot on a Saturday. It just suits being a Saturday night show. I don't think it's a case of whether it 'needs' to be there or not - why move it unless you've got a better slot for it? And personally I'd keep it well away from Sherlock, as the current character of the Doctor is arguably very like Sherlock in some ways.

I have a bad feeling about the Apprentice rating tonight. Two shows in a week and twenty contestants seems a heck of a lot to me. I think it will be down generally and I think some of the audience will assume it starts on a Wednesday - I always think of it as a Wednesday show.

All of series 6 and most of series 7 were on the same night as Not Going Out, and there'll be some crossover this series as well.

DW will remain on Saturdays I am sure but it could go any time of year so the suggestion about Q1 is valid.

Moving Doctor Who might be seen as a demotion but the stats now show it doesn't bring in any extra viewers and pisses away a massive lead-in from Strictly. It looks like it can get 6-7m anywhere anyway. Within scheduling reason of course.

It's being rushed out this year. They only finished filming earlier this month, so I think the BBC might want to see some better ratings before they make a decision on a fourth series.
No problem.

You know I watched Fargo and Freemans accent never bothered me although I am not saying it was good.
Have they specifically said Kylie is excluded? Any explanations?

It's started on Tuesdays quite a few times in the past, and they've very clearly promoted it as starting on Tuesday and continuing on Wednesday, so I don't think that will catch people out. I do agree that twenty contestants is too much though, no idea why they decided to do that especially since it will have the same number of episodes.

I think Sunday's in Q1 would be a good fit in Strictly's 7.15 slot, It'd probably benefit from the higher audience numbers and still keep the weekend 'kids are watching' slot while not pissing off the Whovians too much- Could be a pretty Savvy move imo?

Most people expected some boost from following Strictly but there was nothing. Perhaps another show would benefit from and hold onto more of the Strictly audience? That could potentially boost ratings for the channel on the night in general.

Voice of reason Yorkie. Though when broadcasters try something new it backfires. The GBBO was a phenomenal risk that paid off. Great new formats are increasingly hard to come by.

Winter might be better with more viewers around and no X Factor.

I know you are talking live figures but realistically what else is going to get 7m against XF?

I think a Sunday regular evening slot would work better for "Doctor Who" and I was interested to hear Russell T Davies say had it failed against ITV Saturday nights in 2005 it would have moved there. I doubt BBC one will ever move it.

Logistically it probably doesnt work and I can think of many other problems too not least the one of new content. But I think there is bound to be more of this sort of service and maybe the traditional broadcasters can use it to some extent. Maybe they could reduce to one live channel for sports/live entertainment and carry back catalogues etc on such services. If audiences keep going down there must be point where its not worth churning out traditional channels although its likely to be a long time before this happens if at all.

If we go down the streaming route which isn't for a while yet, There still be BBC channels and sports channels if the License Fee is still there.

Just to be clear I've at no point suggested that Doctor Who should be moved from Saturday nights just to a different time of year (personally I don't think I would have moved it to the Autumn in the first place). Its proven to be a remarkable performer since its revival and (re)opened the world of family drama on Saturday nights in the process so I'd have absolutely no desire to see it moved to another night. I do however think its pretty clear at this point that it isn't benefiting from the Strictly lead-in in the way we might reasonably have expected and so its hard to see much reason to keep the pairing going next year. Especially since we know the show would likely hold up with almost (if not completely) identical figures airing earlier in the year. I also don't think its unreasonable to think another family drama airing out of Strictly can overnight in the same region as Doctor Who. Merlin did during its time on the air and Atlantis wasn't that far off this kind of pace last year (for at least some of its run anyway).


But it isn't actually getting 7 million opposite The X Factor is it. A good 2 million of those viewers aren't even watching on Saturday night. But the point here isn't that Doctor Who is performing poorly in the slot (it isn't) but rather that it doesn't actually seemed to have seen any benefit from the slot. So if they can air Doctor Who earlier in the year and get the same figures and then open the door to launch something else why not? Its not as if everything else the BBC has tried in this slot has collapsed opposite The X Factor is it.