Really strong opener for BGT, lots of talking points and stand out acts both good and fun. The golden buzzer act, the choir, the dog attacking Ant, the older ladies dance troupe etc etc.

But of course you need to have actually tuned in to know that.

It will be over 10.5m easily. People always under predict on here so they can act shocked when the figures do come in. In fact I would not be surprised to see the show get its best ever launch rating since it did last year- the trend has been for it to be up every year. I can't see why that would change after 8 years.

Its a great show and deserves more viewers than Voice UK

Regards
Pearl

DSRPG Predictions

BBC One
19.45 Atlantis: 3.5m
20.30 The Nationall Lottery: In It to Win It: 3.6m

ITV (exc. +1)
19.00 Ninja Warrior UK: 3.6m
20.00 Britain's Got Talent: 9.4m
21.20 Play to the Whistle: 3.7m

How would you know if you've not watched them?

In regards to the schedule tonight, this is what ITV should be doing. Using a big entertainment programme to launch new shows. Out of NWUK and PTTW I hope the former is a hit, as it was more entertaining than I thought it would be.

The BBC don't need to compete with ITV now, since they have been more than solid for most of this year.

BGT was a great first episode.

Apart from Holly, Play to the Whistle was not very good. She may need to show a bit more every week to keep viewers.

I think they'll be roughly spot on

I'd say maybe Ninja Warrior a tad higher than play to the whistle with it being a recognisable format but with both over the 4m mark including plus 1 which would be respectable starts imo

Because I am not interested in what I think is reality crap, be it BGT or a Wipeout/Gladiators clone, and the sports quiz has been done to death although I will probably give that a try on catch up later in the week.

If BGT is over 10m I think people here will be generally surprised - interesting to see the RPG have it in the 9m+ range.

Play To The Whistle could flop badly 3m even. I would be surprised if ITV get 4m for Ninja Warrior.....

Atlantis was good tonight (in my opinion). Shame that it's too little, too late.

Britain's Got Talent always does well and rates well. But in a huge surprise The Voice was nominated for Best Entertainment Programme ahead of BGT and The X Factor at The BAFTAs.

ITV are trying with Saturday nights. Something has to do well for them sooner rather than later.

Deleted.

BGT was very underwhelming.

Don't know what's surprising about this. Has higher production values and is more 'respected'.

Really? I thought it was fantastic as usual. In fact better than ever. The roller blade act was amazing.

Really? That's surprised me. Was that for the Voice UK or the Voice in general?

What? Isnt it a political satire? That sort of thing would never be scheduled for a Saturday night in a trillion years.

In fact I'm surprised ITV are being allowed to show it during the election campaign period at all but that's another matter.

If the Baftas were decided on a programme being more "respected" then Hollyoaks wouldn't have got a nomination.

Meanwhile The Voice is yet to justify it's purpose, still yet to produce a credible artist and the latest winner has dropped down the iTunes chart like a stone despite leading the midweek chart update.

I don't think it's political - more celebrity based. Sorry, what am I saying? It's on ITV, of course it's going to be celebrity based.

It was the only interesting thing, that and Ant getting attacked by the dog.

I thought BGT was great. Lots of talent and it was really light and funny. No particularly heavy sob stories or anything like that, just a good fun show. It'll not match last year's launch as it doesn't have the FA Cup lead-in. I'm inclined to think the rating will be underwhelming just because everything has been underwhelming in the ratings lately, but I'm reluctant to put a number on it.

Ninja Warrior seemed quite good so I hope that does well enough. Didn't watch Play To The Whistle but have seen very mixed views. I can see this one flopping if not tonight then within a couple of weeks.


More respected by who? I guess so called 'credible' artists don't mind The Voice as it has never produced anyone who has gone on to be successful in the charts, hence it is no threat.

The production values thing is a different issue and I've not seen enough of past couple of series of The Voice to have a strong view either way. The production values on tonight's BGT for example were great and from the little I have seen I think it matches if not trumps The Voice but that's just my opinion. Certainly the live Syco shows outstrip what I've seen of the live episodes of The Voice. What I would say is that these shows aren't really made to get BAFTAs (although obviously it's a lovely thing to get) so I doubt ITV will be that bothered.


I think the timing of it is quite deliberate. I'm slightly surprised they can get away with it but I hope they really go for it. It could potentially prove controversial.

What are the BAFTAs based on, then? The National Television Awards award populism and the BAFTAs award technical bravado, isn't that the way of it? Oh I'm so lost.


If only any of this had anything at all to do with its watchability as a piece of television, eh

Ps I love how the rhetoric has changed over time - first "The Voice has never had a song make the top 10", until Leah McFall ruined that; then "The Voice has never had a number one", until Becky Hill ruined that; now it's how quickly the winner's single takes to slide down the iTunes chart rapidly after getting to number one. Perhaps time to let it go

Hmmmm, now you mention it I seem to remember they scrapped a revival of Spitting Image because ITV were trying to insist on including Ant & Dec so you're probably right

The scheduling of the first episode on the night before a leaders debate is certainly intriguing.