It shouldn't have come back for a second series. It was clearly not working as a format, and the viewing figures were disappointing.

I hadn't watched the comedy series as I'd rather watch the originals not remakes. Seemed an odd concept to me. However having seen reaction to GS on line and the fact it was the original cast I've just watched on catch up. Thought it was good but you do need to have watched the original to 'get it'. GS was never an iconic sitcom in the way that Porridge / AYBS etc were so it's one off appeal was going to be lower. Like others have said this needs repeating at Christmas time with a follow up episode.

In meantime I'll stick with GOLD who churn out the old sitcoms. Like a comfy pair of slippers it's always there showing OFAH / Fawlty Towers / Men Behaving Badly/ Last of the Summer Wine / Porridge / Open All Hours / As Time Goes By etc

Our Zoo was ideal for Sunday at 8pm. Not every show has that Sunday feel, but Our Zoo did. As did The Dureells, as does Victoria like DA.

I garuntee if Our Zoo was launched on Sunday at 8pm, it would still be with us today.

I agree about Our Zoo. It wasn't a 9pm mid week series. Mind you series have been thrown away on a Sunday. Putting The Paradise against a successful XF (at the time) killed it off.

I agree - nobody gives a shit about these quiz shows. Talk about giving your rival a head-start ffs. Casualty should be after Strictly, not that crap. The BBC should have these lottery quiz shows banned.

Or just move Pointless Celebs into it's place and break it for the lottery draw.

Ooh, its like Ratings thread 2014 all over again. We had this argument quite often over the idiotic scheduling.

It was not a post Bake Off show as it was a 'family' show with animals put out at a time (post 9 pm) in the very first week of the new school term when parents were less likely to let their kids stay up.

The AIs were extremely good for Our Zoo - similar to what I suspect Goodnight Sweetheart will get. And they did not make a difference.

The people at Chester Zoo were sore about this axing for quite a while as they got the impression it was considered returnable.

They did nothing to help it either - such as a Christmas repeat.

There was still an Our Zoo thread calling for it to be uncancelled in hear as recently as this Summer.

It was a bad error of scheduling caused by assuming the audience was similar to Bake Off. Can see why someone might have thought so but not sure that was ever true.

It was an old fashioned Born and Bred type BBC 8 pm Sunday show to anyone who watched it and that is where it should have been located.

I agree that if it had we would be watching series 3 this month

This weeks trailer for X Factor sounds very low rent. They're advertising it like its a show on ITV Be.

It's always fascinating reading old ratings, especially from cable channels of that era. Was the showing of GoldenEye it's tv premiere?


Stupid of the BBC to waste it in a Friday night slot. This should have been aired over Christmas, to double the audience.

It's equally frustrating as when Channel 4 recently premiered The Lion King on a hot summers day in July. This should be prime Christmas fodder.

the BBC could try The National Lottery Topless Darts ? How do you think that would go down ?

Agreed but I get the impression some shows just don't hit the right the spot with the BBC separate to ratings performance, they could have pursued it but we get the usual "need to make space for other projects" excuse. Crimson Field got the prime slot, did well iirc but was still axed.

The one saving grace for Our Zoo was that the ending was well written to make what we got a self contained mini series that told the story to a point where they could have done more but they had at least told the story of the beginning to reach a suitable ending that was not some kind of idiotic cliffhanger.

Compared with what ITV did with Home Fires - where they could not possibly have infuriated viewers more with the massive cliffhanger they allowed to be the point where they promptly axed it to the annoyance of cast and audience alike.

The one saving grace for Our Zoo was that the ending was well written to make what we got a self contained mini series that told the story of the beginning of Chester Zoo to reach a suitable ending that was not some kind of idiotic cliffhanger.

Compared with what ITV did with Home Fires - where they could not possibly have infuriated viewers more with the massive cliffhanger they allowed to be the point where they promptly axed it to the annoyance of cast and audience alike.

If you invest in watching two series to be left in limbo like this then you are basically asking the audience not to risk such loyalty to your next show in case that also stops midstream with no resolution ever to appear.

BBC1

w/e 16 Aug 1998
7 day data (Millions)

1 EASTENDERS (THU/SUN) 15.89
2 EASTENDERS (TUE/SUN) 13.39
3 EASTENDERS (MON/SUN) 12.71
4 CHANGING ROOMS (THU 2000) 10.07
5 VETS IN PRACTICE (TUE 2000) 8.14
6 NEIGHBOURS (MON 1341/1737) 8.11
7 NEIGHBOURS (THU 1341/1738) 8.1
7 NEIGHBOURS (WED 1341/1737) 8.1
9 NEIGHBOURS (FRI 1342/1738) 8.07
10 ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (SAT 2017) 8.03
11 MEN BEHAVING BADLY (MON 2134) 7.92
12 HEARTBURN HOTEL (MON/FRI) 7.23
13 VETS IN PRACTICE (WED 2000) 7.22
14 NEIGHBOURS (TUE 1341/1737) 7.21
15 THE BROKER'S MAN (THU 2134) 7.09
15 NAT.LOTTERY ON TOUR (SAT 1955) 7.09
17 NINE O'CLOCK NEWS (THU 2100) 7.05
18 LAKESIDERS (MON 2030) 7.04
19 H.WAINTHROPP INVSTGT (FRI 2134) 6.92
20 MAISIE RAINE (TUE 2134) 6.77
21 THE HELLO GIRLS (THU 2031) 6.75
22 DALZIEL AND PASCOE (SUN 1959) 6.65
23 NEWS AND WEATHER (SUN 2135) 6.61
24 FAWLTY TOWERS (FRI 2001) 6.49
25 H.ENFIELD CHRISTMAS (SAT 2144) 6.39
26 WATCHDOG VALUE/MONEY (THU 1901) 5.9
27 CRIMEWATCH UK (TUE 2223) 5.88
28 NINE O'CLOCK NEWS (MON 2100) 5.76
29 NEWS AND WEATHER (SAT 2220) 5.74
30 CELEBRITY/STEADY CK (FRI 1900) 5.69

BBC2

w/e 16 Aug 1998
7 day data (Millions)
1 GROUND FORCE (TUE 2032) 6.12
2 GARDENERS WORLD (FRI 2030) 4.69
3 DADS ARMY (TUE 2101) 4.19
4 LOOKING GOOD (WED 2030) 3.93
5 SIMPSONS (FRI 1801) 3.07
6 HAVE/OLD NEWS FR YOU (MON 2101) 2.91
7 SIMPSONS (MON 1801) 2.91
8 THE TRAVEL SHOW (MON 2030) 2.71
9 NEVER MIND/BUZZCOCKS (THU 2203) 2.39
10 3RD ROCK FROM SUN (THU 2130) 2.27
11 COUNTRY TRACKS (FRI 1959) 2.08
12 THE ARISTOCRACY (MON 2131) 1.9
12 WHATEVER/LIKELY LADS (SUN 2203) 1.9
14 EUROPEAN ATHLETICS (WED 1945) 1.87
15 STAR TREK: VOYAGER (THU 1801) 1.73
16 RAISING CAIN (FRI 2100) 1.72
17 WATCH THIS/DOG DIES (TUE 2133) 1.69
18 CRICKET (SUN 2102) 1.68
18 STAR TREK (FRI 1847) 1.68
20 THE CARS THE STAR (TUE 2212) 1.64
21 WILDLIFE SHOWCASE (MON 2001) 1.63
22 MEET THE ANCESTORS (TUE 2001) 1.62
23 THE ODD COUPLE (FLM) (SAT 2104) 1.59
23 KENAN AND KEL (WED 0909) 1.59
25 THE HANGING GALE (WED 2131) 1.52
26 KENAN AND KEL (FRI 0909) 1.49
26 SPACE 1999 (MON 1824) 1.49
26 KENAN AND KEL (THU 0907) 1.49
29 WATCH OUT (SUN 1802) 1.45
30 X-MEN (FRI 0840) 1.44

ITV

w/e 16 Aug 1998
7 day data (Millions)
1 CORONATION STREET (MON 1931/2904) 13.91
2 CORONATION STREET (FRI 1929/2904) 13.39
3 CORONATION STREET (SUN 1929/2904) 12.86
4 CORONATION STREET (WED 1929/2904) 12.29
5 EMMERDALE (THU 1901) 10.96
6 EMMERDALE (WED 1859) 10.3
7 EMMERDALE (TUE/WED) 9.91
8 EYE OF THE STORM (THU 2031) 8.73
9 TOUCH OF FROST (SUN 2033) 8.46
10 HOME AND AWAY (THU 1301/1713) 7.75
11 BABES IN THE WOOD (THU 2102) 7.69
12 HOME AND AWAY (WED 1300/1713) 7.53
13 WHEEL OF FORTUNE (MON 1859) 7.29
14 HOME AND AWAY (MON 1301/1713) 7.28
15 THE BILL (THU 1959) 7.07
16 DUCK PATROL (SUN 2001) 6.96
17 TAKE YOUR PICK (FRI 1859) 6.82
18 HOME AND AWAY (TUE 1301/1713) 6.8
19 BIG MATCH (WED 1930) 6.71
20 NEWS (SAT 2213) 6.46
21 JUST CAUSE (TUE 2103) 6.31
22 FAMILY FORTUNES (SAT 1940) 6.29
23 NEWS AT TEN (TUE 2200) 6.23
23 NEWS AT TEN (WED 2220) 6.23
25 NEWS (SUN 2232) 6.18
26 NEWS AT TEN (MON 2202) 6.16
27 THE BILL (TUE 1959) 6.08
28 WYCLIFFE (SAT 2111) 5.78
29 VERDICT (FRI 2001) 5.34
30 HALE AND PACE (THU 2134) 5.29


Channel 4

w/e 16 Aug 1998
7 day data (Millions)
1 BROOKSIDE (FRI/SAT) 4.38
2 FRIENDS (FRI 2103) 4.25
3 BROOKSIDE (WED/SAT) 4.17
4 BROOKSIDE (TUE/SAT) 3.82
5 COUNTDOWN (FRI 1629) 3.45
6 COUNTDOWN (THU 1630) 3.4
7 COUNTDOWN (MON 1630) 3.17
8 BLACK BOX (WED 2101) 3.05
9 COUNTDOWN (WED 1629) 2.98
10 FRASIER (FRI 2202) 2.86
11 COUNTDOWN (TUE 1629) 2.81
12 HOLLYOAKS (THU/SUN) 2.77
13 RICKI LAKE (THU 1658) 2.65
14 HOLLYOAKS (MON/SUN) 2.58
15 SO GRAHAM NORTON (FRI 2233) 2.52
16 SPIN CITY (FRI 2134) 2.5
17 RICKI LAKE (WED 1657) 2.45
18 RICKI LAKE (FRI 1657) 2.4
18 CLASSIC HOMES (THU 2031) 2.4
20 DEALS ON WHEELS (WED 2031) 2.38
21 BILL/TEDS BOGUS JRNY (SUN 1747) 2.35
22 FIFTEEN-TO-ONE (FRI 1600) 2.24
22 ALLY MCBEAL (WED 2203) 2.24
24 PET RESCUERS (WED 1731) 2.16
24 FIFTEEN-TO-ONE (THU 1600) 2.16
26 PET RESCUERS (THU 1732) 2.15
27 PET RESCUERS (FRI 1732) 2.08
28 SOUTH PARK (FRI 2313) 2.05
28 RICKI LAKE (TUE 1658) 2.05
30 REAL GARDENS (FRI 2001) 2.04

Any predictions for tonight? I was not too far off last night with my predictions for BBC and ITV, so in theory I shouldn't be too far off tonight

My would be:

Pointless 4.7m
SCD 8.8m
Lottery 4.3m


Go For It 1.9m
TXF 6.7m
Newziods 3.3m
Carpenters 2.7m

I suspect like most years, both shows surrounding SCD will get a boost of 1-1.5m

For ITV, flimsy LE show Go For It will drop below 2m against SCD, TXF will be around similar to last Saturday - no boost from SCD. Newziods will do 'ok', but better than if it were anywhere else.

Tonight's X Factor has been the most cringeworthy yet....... I can't describe it, blokes falling out because of raw chicken.

Interesting to note that 3.71 million still equates to nearly 20% or 1 in 5 of the audience though so maybe not so bad as it seems after all especially with Twitter support as well

And watching tonight's show it feels like it's an ITV Be show too. Can't recall a more ridiculous audition show. Massive segment focusing on an argument between contestants over raw chicken. Absolute crap after last week's positive shows.

#ChickenFactor

Seriously though, would you get so pissy if I gave raw chicken to you be accident? Simple plan, put it in the over for a few more minutes...

The chicken argument was hilarious, mainly because of the editing. The backing music they used was perfect. They've always had a mix of the good and the bad and they still had some good singers on tonight.

It's slightly weird in a way them reverting back to 60 minute shows - it felt quite short tonight. That isn't a bad thing, mind. Indeed it's probably quite important with them doing 2 shows a week.

The next revolution at the BBC should involve Saturday nights. I think they should ditch the Lottery, its just an excuse to entwine another in an endless sequence of quiz shows around it. It may be safe, it may bring in a solid 3 million or more against most opposition but its too same old same old now for me. Id probably throw in Casualty too, move it to Friday at 9.00. Only drawback is what to put in their places

British Comedy Guide says 3.04m (15.4%) for WILTY - up on the last three series openers (for comparison, series 7 started in May and had no promotion whatsoever because it was filmed so close to broadcast, series 8 started in September during an Indian summer, and series 9 started in late July)

Yeah, I really enjoyed tonight's show. It was an entertaining 60 minutes and the panel is so much better this year. I'm glad the auditions seem to be kept to 1 hour for each episode. Tonight's show flowed really well and didn't feel dragged out. 1 hour is just right for The X Factor audition stages. I don't think it can get away with stretching out the running time too much these days, as the ratings have gone down they can't just assume the audience will stick around for a dragged out show like they may have done in the past.

I quite liked Newzoids too. And Go For It with Stephen Mulhern is good harmless entertainment beforehand. I think it's a good little show.

Good to see it above 3m. The new series has been well promoted by the BBC.

This is one programme where BBC1 put audience appreciation above ratings. This is series TEN. Like Citizen Khan, WILTY gets away with low ratings because it's scheduled against Coronation Street.

Well I thought the chicken drama was hilarious. I've found since I stopped treating it as an actual "talent" show and more like a scripted comedy drama I've enjoyed the show a lot more.