I'm not convinced Abbey will get a spectacular overnight rating at Christmas. Probably just in line with recent Christmases.

Imagine someone trying to watch two hours of it in a family environment on Christmas Night, with drunken relatives lying around, snacks to prepare, older family members needing lifts home, and granny popping her hip out when someone tries to put her in the car.

You paint a lovely picture although I do agree with you. I will be amazed though if DA does not finish as top show as it will consolidate massively.

I thought tonight was slow. The main problem I have with TWD is how it moves backwards and forwards before revealing what we want to know. What has happened to Glenn?! When TWD is on form it's superb, but when it's not, like tonight, it's just all a bit dull. Also they spend too much time on non characters. Daryl has been massively absent this series. But from a ratings POV its absolutely smashing it! How's it been rating in American this series so far?

Good point. You would save the TV treat wouldn't you, rather than risk it being spoilt by those kind of distractions.

That's a pity though, because as it stands it's likely to be the only event of note in the Christmas Day schedules. There's going to be nothing worth rooting for, and it'll be the most predictable Christmas ever ratings wise.

Latest on I'm A Celebrity 2015: Yvette Fielding, Jorgie Porter, Duncan Bannatyne and footballer Kieran Dyer

I think Mrs Brown will be highest on overnights again

...70%+ of whom do not watch the ads...

I wonder if Z Nation would exist if TWD wasn't so ponderous?

I think it's clever that they do that. Gets people talking. The Glenn thing has definitely thrown up some interesting theories.

The backwards and forwards stuff only bothers me when it's constant like it was in one of the earlier episodes. I don't mind a flash forward pre-titles, and then back to the present. That's okay. But they have to be careful not to overdo it.

Looks like it's a little down in the US, from around 14-15m to 12-13m, but still absolutely huge for a cable show obviously. Will the writers be able to end it when the time is right or is that a stupid question when it's pulling in those kind of audiences and selling so well internationally?

There seems to be a limit on the available audience for US drama in this country and they therefore suit the digital channels more. I have just started watching Blacklist on box sets and am enjoying it and I am catching up on the last couple of series of TWD - its a pity we dont produce stuff like this.

I agree, I said the same thing earlier, about Downton, not about your Granny popping her hip out.

It would be nice if the schedulers could surprise* us with an unexpected programme popping up in the Christmas Night schedules, but I don't think they will.

(* But not the kind of surprise we had in 2011, when Jim'll Fix It was in the Xmas Day provisionals.)

Yes I do remember there were various jokes going around at the expense of AR when XF was absolutely at its peak and not far off 10 million ahead on occasion. AR is surely one of the of the most consistent performers in tv history and still holding such a prime slot not all that far off 40 years since its birth.

Still a decent figure in modern terms for XF but how can it not suffer in comparison to the extraordinary peak figures of recent memory? Always fighting a losing battle there.

Brilliant figures for Strictly -the warmest show on tv and in its element in this mid series period. The celebs love it and don't want to leave-and neither do its audience. Continues to hit a hugely impressive high with no signs of flagging.

Still the Xmas finale to go but tribute without doubt for Downton Abbey which became legend before its very first episode had even ended. Six fabulous years on, every slot won, what will ITV do without it!

To be honest in my opinion I think the big surprise will be what will the BBC leave out of the christmas day schedule on BBC 1. It seems more jam packed than usual.

Here is the shows on BBC 1 which could be on christmas day from http://ukchristmastv.weebly.com/late...-2015.html BBC

Call the Midwife - Christmas Day ?
Doctor Who - Christmas Day
EastEnders - Christmas Day
Mrs Brown's Boys - Christmas Day
Stick Man - Christmas Day?
Still Open All Hours - Christmas Day ?
Strictly Come Dancing - Christmas Day

With these shows above christmas Day on bbc 1 could look like

3pm The Queen
3.10 film - Wreck it Ralph?
4.45 News
5pm Stick Man
5.30pm Doctor Who
6.30pm Strictly Come Dancing
7.45pm Still Open All Hourd
8.15pm Call The Midwife
9.30pm Eastenders
10.30pm Mrs Brown's Boys

Nan could be added to this instead of stick man pushing the schedule 30mins forward.

Personally I do think it is time CTM moved to christmas Eve or Boxing Day.

Here us the full list of shows on bbc over christmas from website above

BBC

Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None
Billionaire Boy
Boomers
Call the Midwife
Catherine Tate's Nan
Doctor Who
EastEnders
Eat Well for Less?
Live at the Apollo Christmas Special
Mrs Brown's Boys
Not Going Out
Pointless Celebrities Christmas Special
Professor Branestawm
​QI
Shaun the Sheep : The Farmer's Llamas
Sherlock (Confirmed for New Year's Day)
Simply Nigella
Songs of Praise – Big Sing
Stick Man
Still Open All Hours
Walliams and Friends
Would I lie to You?

I doubt AMC will let it end even if ratings fell to say 5-6m because that's still big in cable terms. I do think the fact it's their only big hit aside from FTWD and Better Call Saul means they're more likely to renew it for a long time. Preacher looks good and I imagine that'll air after TWD when it returns from its hiatus

I think Dickensian is also being launched at Christmas, but not too sure about that.

The only reason Z-nation exists is because TWD is the rating phenomenon of the last 6 or 7 years.

Miserable Daily Mail pointed out this morning that DA's rating was it 2nd worst finale since it started.

Just spotted this on Twitter, Michael McIntyre's Big Christmas Show will be on Christmas Day.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/lat...name=corporate

So it looks like we're in for more or less the exact same schedule as last year then, and this will probably be on after Mrs Brown.

Channel 4 Press ‏@C4Press 45s46 seconds ago
Aldi's Supermarket Secrets... #Dispatches averaged an impressive 3.2m/ 14.3% share last night - highest rating commercial channel at 8pm

That's a great rating for Dispatches.

In this new BBC drama trailer you can see a few glimpses of Dickensian.

https://youtu.be/G57ziAvaPcQ

Surely there is room for both?

Robin Parker (@robinparker55) tweeted at 9:33 am on Tue, Nov 10, 2015:
BBC2's London Spy debuted with 2.5m last night, beating all channels bar BBC1

https://twitter.com/robinparker55/st...074704896?s=09

A glimpse of Peaky Blinders as well so looking forward to that.

Stunningly good rating for Dispatches. Viewers just can't get enough of documentaries on supermarkets it seems. I know it's something we all have to do every week, but still surprising just how popular they are.

Great start for London Spy also. That's the two standout ratings of the night and neither were on the big two, so an interesting night of ratings for sure.