If ITV don't react quick enough to the ending of Downton, I could see the BBC moving Poldark to fill that void - they would then dominate Sundays both pre and post Christmas with Midwife taking up the baton in January.

As we have seen though, when viewers know something is coming to an end, they tend to drift away. We could see lower overnights as viewers have less of an incentive to catch up. Whether the final episode on Christmas Day will get a boost is another thing. It may be the final episode but 2 hours of period drama for the fans will need to be savoured.

Of course for December 2016, just what can ITV put in it's place ?

They need shows like that so the bosses can axe BBC Three.

Downton vs Sherlock on Christmas Day?

Poldark is doing well but it'll hardly be the next Downton. It's currently doing 6 million with pretty easy competition. It will hardly be as dominant as Downton or Midwife.

And when she says something it's usually true.

Yeah I'd think it makes much more sense to keep Poldark where it is particularly since the BBC have had a little trouble filling this Sunday 9PM slot in recent years. If anything I'd expect its return to be brought forward next year rather than pushed later. I can however see the BBC pushing the next series of Sherlock into the Downton slot (assuming its ready of course). That would also make life difficult for ITV in terms of launching something new there.

Why don't you leave them to worry about that? I don't even want to think about this year Christmas until at least November, let alone worry about what ITV are going to be doing.

we could well see ratings for the soaps drop even further next week after the clocks change this weekend

Looking at this article about possible Clarkson replacements...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32064440

... proves what a tough job BBC Two has ahead. They'll try, but I don't think it's going to work, especially if, as seems likely, Hammond and May walk away. The only saving grace might be if Kim Shillinglaw is prepared to accept Fifth Gear-esque viewing figures.

The parcel of nails and a coffin is not one BBC Two should be in a hurry to return to sender.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not foreseeing any overnight ratings boost for a Christmas Day Abbey finale, either. People will catch up at their leisure. It's quite obviously going to end with the funeral of Maggie Smith's character. No urgency to watch two hours of that on Christmas Night.

No one cares about the soaps.

Wonder if ITV might join the revival craze to replace Downton Abbey. They have a long running Granada series from 40 years ago that they could remake.

Family at War. About the war efforts at home and in battle of a family from Liverpool from just before World War Two began.

It was like Downton in a sense - a family saga set across several years in changing and very trying times.

Would be interesting to see that remade given the better special effects they could bring with modern technology.

It does not get repeated much (if ever) and so would be quite fresh to a modern audience plus it ended after several series (1970 - 72) before the war ended so there was never a proper conclusion.

Barabara Flynn and John Nettles are still around from the cast (they could recast them as the parents now!) and that theme music (from Vaughan Williams) is as much classic 70s as any UK TV series.

Makes the figure for Neighbours: The Stars Reunite last week look pretty decent.

On that note, is there a consolidated figure for last Wednesday?

Just as popbitch predicted …

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-...eremy-clarkson

How did The Royals do on E! Wednesday 9pm??

Neither ITV nor Netflix responded to inquiries by RadioTimes.com but they both have valid reasons for a potential interest.

ITV is suffering a ratings trough this year and is said to be keen to attract more young male viewers, especially after it lost the rights to show Champions League football to BT. BT Sport has snapped up a three-year deal to show all Champions League and Europa League matches staring with the 2015-16 tournament.

Netflix is also seen as a possible fit for Clarkson given the global popularity of Top Gear which attracts an estimated worldwide audience of 350 million people. The online subscription service could offer an immediate and accessible destination for fans.

Emmerdale will be down tonight as it is against Masterchef for the 8pm episode. Possibly below 5 million.

I think so or even a bit lower. IIRC the share is typically nearer 5% than 7%.

And EastEnders will be down tomorrow against the England match but logic doesn't apply here when it comes to the soaps. There'll be talk of both shows being in crisis although probably more on EE as people seem more desperate for that to fail.

2014 Soaps Overnights week before clocks change 24/3 v week after clocks went forward 31/3

Emmerdale

Mon 6.71m v 6.22m
Tue 6.1m v 6.19m
Wed 6.38m v 6.19m
Thu 5.88m v 6.15m
Fri 5.87m v 6.02m

Coronation Street

Mon 8.44m v 7.77m
Mon 7.99m v 7.97m
Wed 7.65m v 7.32m
Fri 7.36m v 7.65m
Fri 6.45m v 7.16m

EastEnders

Mon 7.23m v 7.31m
Tue 7.04m v 6.46m
Thu 6.74m v 6.82m
Fri 6.6m v 6.2m

Late 18th century period drama is not as relatable for the soap audience as early 20th century. 50's/60's drama is even more relatable. You need to be able to pull in this audience if you want big drama viewing nos.

Now that Downton is nding ITV need to be looking for their next hit to fill that slot. Tbh It wouldn't surprise me if they have nothing to replace it. What with DM (reportedly) being the final series and DA, drama that is returning needs to be a priority.

They'll be hoping Beowulf and Jekyll and Hyde are hits.

I think though, they should seriously consider a drama along the lines of The Daring Buds and Heartbeat which is missing from TV schedules. The only drama that comes close to this is Last Tango and DM.

But this type of cosy family drama, 8pm Sunday's is distinctly missing.

I'm not sure ITV or BBC1 has that can get Downton sized ratings. Doc Martin would do well there for ITV. BBC1 could put Death In Paradise there?

Im thinking Emmerdale will get 9.5m for the 7pm showing and about 6.8m for the 8pm due to Masterchef on the british broadcasting corporation .

IT'S TIME FOR A NEW SEASON ON THE DSRPG!

The Ark graces our screens on Monday but will it sink or swim? Could the Leaders' debate poll well? Will Michael McIntyre's Easter Outing be a post-Lent pick me up or heavier than a hundred Easter eggs being devoured by Vera?

Thunderbirds returns; how will it launch? Both Only Connect and The Voice UK reach their final stage but, unlike at Strangeways, there shouldn't be a riot. I can't be so sure about Italy v England, though. Breaking Dawn combines kissing and blood sucking but will it suck in the final figures? Eurovision makes an early appearance but will it be number one in the hit parade?

Whether you're a regular, a lapsed player or brand new to the game why not take part? Just left click HERE, hit 'Quote', delete the Quote marks and get predicting!

Thank you to everyone who takes part in advance.

E4 - 07:00 PM Hollyoaks 769 4.2% 2
BBC Four - 08:30 PM The Quizeum 689 3.3% 3
BBC Four - 09:00 PM The Wonderful World of Blood with Michael Mosley 648 3.2% 4 BBC Four - 08:00 PM Great Irish Journeys with Martha Kearney 582 2.9% 5
ITV3 - 08:00PM Rosemary and Thyme 554 2.7% 6
E4 - 06:30 PM The Big Bang Theory 548 3.2% 7
Dave - 09:00 PM QI XL 469 2.3% 8 5 USA - 08:00 PM NCIS 464 2.2% 9
ITV3 - 09:00 PM Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans 462 2.3% 10
Quest - 09:00 PM Salvage Hunters 461 2.3% -

See more at: http://www.itvmedia.co.uk/#sthash.vvOfIUcB.dpuf

Pleased this is repeating well.

BBC4 had a good night