The last bank holiday before Christmas and the long range weather forecast is showing a high pressure over the uk bringing warm air up from the continent. It will pull down the audience numbers for all channels so the figures I would say, should be around 8 million including plus 1

It usually starts well, getting 10 million, but by the tedious boot camp stage sheds a couple of million. TXF also has a big sporting event to mess it up this time, which could hit ratings, and yet more changes to the judges suggests desperation is creeping in. I think if TXF loses viewers again this year, Simon Cowell might decide to cancel it when the contract ends next year. He's not a man who likes failure.
Also launching this week is CBB. I wonder how this will fare as this summer's BB was the weakest ever and the introduction of a twist, UKVS USA, might see a load of little known Americans appear. However, it does seem that CBB is a stronger of the two versions of the show and 2.5 million viewers still like the celeb version.

No way will it get 10 million. Last year's launch figures were:

Saturday: 9.49m (43.0%)
Sunday: 8.20m (34.9%)

I don't think it stands a chance of matching last year's Saturday rating as that was boosted by Simon & Cheryl's return and no other Saturday show came close. The Sunday show looks to be a more manageable target although bear in mind that last year it didn't launch on a Bank Holiday weekend (the BH was a week earlier) whereas it is this year. That's bound to make an impact.

Not sure what the weather is going to be be like but if it's warm that'll make things worse. I think around 8.5m for Saturday. Not sure about Sunday yet, I think it depends on how Saturday's show goes down.

People will always say this before the series starts and to be fair there is a chance more might tune in to see the changes at least initially. But big changes and announcements did not work last year despite the hype and predictions and if the contest remains the same it will probably get around the same figures. I think a lot of the audience have moved on.

There have been 'big changes' every year for the past few years so it's just the same old. This years changes could be a change too far, or it could rejuvenate the programme. I think Sundays figure will be more telling than Saturdays.

It's quite interesting when a few try to " talk up" a dying format, XF had its ratings seriously fall last year, most people in particular the " youth" market its aimed at were not bothered, and there wasn't any talk about it, even though the XF press office tried to get a story in each tabloid each day.

There is a Press show this week and Rita Ora can't go as she is in the USA.

The youth can't related to Simon Cowell, he has lowered the ages of the judges bar himself, so not relevant.

The bloated format, with too many ad breaks and five minute introductions of the judges twice, and elongated voice overs is so 70's now.

It may do well as the BBC hasn't launched its big guns yet, but as SCD gets back, it will show up that you can paint over the cracks, but there still there.

Casualty staying nice and solid. It'll be interesting to see how it fares tonight, as it's on again. I can't remember the last time it was on across the weekend.


I think SCD will also suffer a decline this year. Both SCD and XF are becoming old formats now. I think both shows will still do well, but I think age will catch up with SCD this year.

Is this from the Met Office? They'll lose their contract if they keep this weather up.

The voice over guy has left so there might not be any voice overs

deleted

Well spotted, Jake.

Strictly has the presenter issue. Tess just isn't good enough as main presenter. Wooden air head. She is only as good as the auto cue. You need a nimble quick thinker on these type of shows. Claudia works upstairs as she is just. Watching Tess knowing Bruce even in his doddery 80's would have picked up/responded ad Lib to stuff is just poor.

Maybe it is time for Dermot to take over

Bruce was good and an all round entertainer with 'a century' of experience. Tess cant match that, but is good in her own way, slightly understated. Claudia is the court jester, and steals the laughs.

Going by the Real Celebrates so far announced. it will be a highly rated series. We have a week more of announcements ending on Friday with a famous duo.

The opposition is not particularly impressive:

BBC1
7.50 National Lottery Five Star Reunion
8.45 Casualty

BBC2:
7.40 Edwardian Farm
8.40 Dad's Army
9.10 Sue Perkins at the Edinburgh Festival

C4:
8.00 Walking Through History
9.00 Film: Side Effects

C5:
8.00 Can't Pay ? We'll Take It Away
9.00 Football League Tonight

Saturday 25th August 1990
NEWS, SPORT & WEATHER (BBC1, 21:50) 9.59m
STARS IN THEIR EYES - THE FINAL (ITV, 18:50) 9.21m
BAYWATCH (U.S.) (ITV, 19:35) 8.82m
MISS MARPLE : NEMESIS (Repeat) (BBC1, 20:00) 8.79m
'ALLO 'ALLO (Repeat) (BBC1, 18:35) 6.93m
CHAMPION BLOCKBUSTERS (ITV, 18:00) 6.64m
TAKEOVER BID (BBC1, 19:30) 6.4m
NEWS (ITV, 22:15) 6.0m
THAT'S SHOWBUSINESS (BBC1, 19:00) 5.5m
CAPTAIN JAMES COOK - PART THREE (Repeat) (Most ITV, 20:30) 5.1m
THE BEST OF JIM'LL FIX IT (BBC1, 17:55) 5.0m
FILM : EYE OF THE NEEDLE (Repeat) (BBC1, 22:10) 4.6m
STAY TOONED! (BBC1, 17:30) 4.5m
CANNON AND BALL'S CASINO (Most ITV, 17:15) 4.4m
PICK OF THE PILOTS (ITV, 22:35) 4.0m

Saturday 24th August 1991
THE TWO OF US (Repeat) (ITV, 19:10) 8.56m
NEWS, SPORT & WEATHER (BBC1, 20:50 ) 8.12m
TV FILM : COLUMBO - A DEADLY STATE OF MIND (U.S.) (Repeat) (BBC1, 19:40) 7.58m
BEVERLY HILLS 90210 (U.S.) (ITV, 19:40) 7.22m
THE CARE OF TIME (ITV, 21:00) 6.48m
NEWS (ITV, 20:40) 5.9m
FILM : ROBIN AND MARIAN (Repeat) (Most ITV, 17:15) 5.8m
THE FLYING DOCTORS (Australia) (BBC1, 17:45) 5.5m
THE BEST OF JIM'LL FIX IT (BBC1, 19:00) 5.3m
STAY TOONED! (BBC1, 17:20) 4.5m
RICHARD DIGANCE (ITV, 23:00) 4.4m
ROY'S RAIDERS (BBC1, 18:30) 4.2m
TV FILM : RED RIVER (U.S.) (BBC1, 21:19) 4.2m
The Care of Time was a single drama from Anglia, postponed from 26th August 1990, starring Michael Brandon and Christopher Lee.
Red River replaced the film By Dawn's Early Light.

Saturday 29th August 1992
THE UPPER HAND (Repeat) (ITV, 18:40) 10.84m
CATCHPHRASE (ITV, 18:10) 9.81m
FILM : THE MAN WITH ONE RED SHOE (Repeat) (ITV, 19:15) 9.57m
LONDON'S BURNING (Repeat) (ITV, 20:50) 8.89m
NEWS, SPORT & WEATHER (BBC1, 21:50) 8.7m
MISS MARPLE : A CARIBBEAN MYSTERY (Repeat) (BBC1, 20:00) 8.67m
DAD'S ARMY (Repeat) (BBC1, 19:30) 7.57m
NEWS (ITV, 22:25) 6.7m
THE A-TEAM (U.S.) (Repeat) (ITV, 17:15) 6.1m
MATCH OF THE DAY (BBC1, 22:10) 5.5m
EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO (BBC1, 17:50) 5.2m
THE BEST OF JIM'LL FIX IT (BBC1, 18:45) 5.0m
TOM & JERRY TRIPLE BILL (U.S.) (BBC1, 17:25) 4.9m
PHIL COOL (ITV, 22:45) 4.6m

Saturday 28th August 1993
BIRDS OF A FEATHER (Repeat) (BBC1, 20:30) 9.54m
THE BILL (ITV, 20:00) 8.71m
OPEN ALL HOURS (Repeat) (BBC1, 20:00) 8.27m
NEWS, SPORT & WEATHER (BBC1, 21:00) 8.11m
TV FILM : A FATHER'S REVENGE (U.S.) (ITV, 20:30) 7.98m
FILM : BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED (Repeat) (BBC1, 18:20) 7.34m
NEWS (ITV, 22:15) 6.43m
SPENDER (Repeat) (BBC1, 21:20) 6.3m
RETURN OF THE GLADIATORS (ITV, 18:00) 6.1m
MATCH OF THE DAY (BBC1, 22:10) 5.16m
TV FILM : FREEZE FRAME (U.S.) (ITV, 18:30) 5.09m
Rating for Edinburgh Military Tattoo (BBC1, 17:20) not known, but below 6.04m.

Thursday 25th December 1986
JUST GOOD FRIENDS (BBC1, 18:00) 20.76m
EASTENDERS (Part 1) (BBC1, 18:35) 19.55m (Sunday Omnibus : 10m)
EASTENDERS (Part 2) (BBC1, 22:00) 18.95m (Sunday Omnibus : 11.2m)
ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES (BBC1, 19:05) 18.76m
THE QUEEN (BBC1, 15:00) 16.46m
THE RUSS ABBOT CHRISTMAS SHOW (BBC1, 17:25) 16.07m
FILM : DUMBO (ITV, 15:10) 14.11m
FILM : EDUCATING RITA (BBC1, 22:40) 13.92m
MISS MARPLE : THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE (BBC1, 20:20) 13.29m
TOP OF THE POPS CHRISTMAS PARTY (BBC1, 14:00) 12.78m
A DUTY FREE CHRISTMAS (ITV, 21:00) 12.65m
STRIKE IT LUCKY (ITV, 16:20) 11.7m
FILM : NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (ITV, 18:30) 11.53m
FILM : ANNIE, THE MUSICAL (BBC1, 15:10) 10.09m
EVERY SECOND COUNTS (BBC1, 13:25) 8.43m
CHRISTMAS MORNING WITH NOEL (BBC1, 11:30) 8.11m
CINDERELLA (Pantomime) (ITV, 17:00) 7.72m
THE QUEEN (ITV, 15:00) 7.72m
TV FILM : AGATHA CHRISTIE'S DEAD MAN'S FOLLY (U.S.) (ITV, 22:10) 6.15m
FILM : THE PURE HELL OF ST TRINIAN'S (Repeat) (BBC1, 10:00) 6.1m
Ratings for news bulletins not known.

Well, I think we all saw that latter rating coming - excellent drama it may have been, it was all wrong for a Saturday night.

I see they are actually showing the third Bourne film next week, but at 10.45.

Famous duo?? Richard and Judy??

Due to BBC budget cuts it will be the Two Ronnies!

Talking of SCD don't we say every year "it will show its age" and it always surprises. Line up looks really good so it may hold up.

I think the rugby could cause some problems though. As for the X Factor as another poster as said the changes could kill it or rejuvenate it. I think more likely it won't make any difference and another natural decline will happen. But again with a rugby world cup boost it may do well this year.

I want to see ITV pick up this autumn, its the 60th anniversary for goodness sake. They need to invest.

We'll see how well The National Lottery can hold up opposite TXF. At the moment it is still pulling in just over 3m and a respectable 19%.

For their 60th anniversary year, it has been on big flop. You would think they would have made it more of a big deal and made sure 2015 started with a bang and ended. As it is most of this years has been poor.

I hope the weather will be warm to destroy The X Factor in the ratings.

I agree. But they now have a chance to improve things, Rugby may help them this autumn and of course having the six nations england home games next year is another help.

As for this year, Ninja Warrior UK and You're Back in the Room did quite well, better than any BBC effort this year. But they need more drama mid week and they need to schedule their factual programs better. The new Stephen Fry series against WDYTYA for instance strikes me as silly.

If I was ITV I would heavily invest these next few years in Drama series that can return, Entertainment formats as it looks like the BBC will be out of that game and try with comedy. I would dent my profits even run a small loss for 2 years just to sure up the next decade.

Sport wise I bid for F1 as it can bring a decent audience in during the weekends, I'm not saying an exclusive deal but maybe look to take over from the BBC.

Football wise I don't think anything commercially viable is out there. Maybe look into the League Cup but that one is a long way off.

We don't know what charter renewal is going to come up with yet but its quite possible that ITV could pick up something, like the voice or maybe sports rights.

Basically I am saying ITV need to have an investment drive.