Media UK

C1 - news archive

This is an archive of news about C1. Some links may no longer work, due to the transient nature of the internet.

Anita Anand to co-host 'Politics Show' on TV
From Biz Asia. Posted July 23 2008, 6.25pm
Anita Anand will co-present 'The Daily Politics' on BBC Two from September 2008. Anita said: "It isn't often that you get the chance to work on a programme of which you are such a long-standing and enthusiastic fan. This is certainly one of those times. "The Daily Politics tackles the important issues with the people who have the power to affect change. "It is an honour to be part of this excellent team. I am also very much looking forward to working with Andrew Neil, who is – let's face it – a legend!" Robbie Gibb, Editor, 'The Daily Politics', said: "Anita has a natural warm broadcasting style which she has developed so successfully on BBC Five Live. "She has a lightness of touch, genuine connection with the audience and effortless wit. She is a great addition to the Daily Politics." The Daily Politics airs every lunchtime during the Parliamentary term on BBC Two and is hosted by Andrew Neil. The programme specialises in tough interviews and discussions on the top political stories of the day. It also covers issues away from Westminster and speaks to people not normally directly involved in the world of politics. Anita will continue to present on BBC Radio 5 Live where she has established herself as a popular broadcaster. Anita has worked on Radio 5 Live Drive, The Anita Anand Show, BBC Radio 4's The World Today, BBC World Service radio, BBC Asian Network and BBC One's Heaven And Earth Show. This will be Anita's first regular TV appearance after fronting ZEE TV's UK news bulletins between the late 90s to 2003. Related links: Anita Anand lands 'Drive' on BBC Radio 5 Live Ashish quits ZEE TV, ZEE News UK in major changes (more)

Hurt and Ryan join the cast of BBC1's new drama Merlin
From The Stage. Posted July 23 2008, 1.50pm
(more)

TV ratings - July 22: Audiences plummet for BBC's Eastenders and Bonekickers
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 10.45am
EastEnders pulled in one of its lowest-ever ratings, while BBC1's archaeology drama Bonekickers also continued to see its audience fall away. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Michelle Ryan and John Hurt join all-star cast for BBC1 drama Merlin
From Media Guardian. Posted July 23 2008, 6.14am
Bionic Woman star Michelle Ryan will join veteran actor John Hurt in the cast of BBC1's forthcoming fantasy drama Merlin. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

John Hurt, Michelle Ryan join 'Merlin'
From Digital Spy. Posted July 23 2008, 12.02am
John Hurt, Michelle Ryan and Santiago Cabrera join the cast of BBC One's fantasy drama Merlin. (more)

Open golf proves a hit for BBC One
From Digital Spy. Posted July 21 2008, 3.38pm
An audience of 3.3m watched Padraig Harrington win the golf Open on BBC One yesterday afternoon. (more)

Sport on TV: Want to make history? A silly name won't help
From The Independent. Posted July 20 2008, 12.00am
So Great Britain and Ireland may come top of the European medals table when it comes to lack of holidays, high retirement age and low life expectancy – not to mention traditional success in the fields of teenage pregnancy, obesity, binge drinking and drug taking. But if 'Olympic Dreams' (BBC1, Tuesday) come true, we will also excel in chronic parenting and absurd children's names. (more)

Andrew Anthony on television: Midsomer? Don't go there...
From Media Guardian. Posted July 19 2008, 11.01pm
Andrew Anthony on television: Midsomer murders, ITV1; The Culture Show, BBC2; Harley Street, ITV1; The Qur'an, BBC1 (more)

Walters joins new BBC One drama
From Digital Spy. Posted July 18 2008, 9.13pm
Julie Walters signs up to lead new BBC One drama, A Short Stay In Switzerland. (more)

Julie Walters to appear in BBC euthanasia drama based on life of Dr Anne Turner
From Media Guardian. Posted July 18 2008, 2.01pm
Julie Walters is to appear in a BBC1 drama inspired by the true story of a woman who ended her life by euthanasia after contracting a rare brain disease. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Walters to star in BBC1 assisted suicide drama
From The Stage. Posted July 18 2008, 12.40pm
(more)

TV ratings - July 17: Harley Street plays second fiddle to fraud show
From Media Guardian. Posted July 18 2008, 11.35am
ITV1's new drama Harley Street could be heading for medical attention itself after it was soundly beaten by BBC1's fraud series On the Fiddle?. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

TV ratings: BBC2 viewing figures down 10% after Weakest Link's move to BBC1
From Media Guardian. Posted July 16 2008, 3.37pm
BBC2 saw its audience share fall more than 10% in the first half of the year after the move of Weakest Link to BBC1 in February to replace Neighbours. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

BBC1's 'Bonekickers' drops 1.6m
From Digital Spy. Posted July 16 2008, 2.57pm
The audience for new drama Bonekickers drops by 1.6m for last night's second episode. (more)

TV ratings - July 15: Bonekickers drops 1.6m viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted July 16 2008, 10.13am
BBC1's new drama Bonekickers lost viewers on its second outing but still easily overwhelmed ITV1's repeat of Doc Martin. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Freesat to move on BBC, ITV, C4 regions
From Digital Spy. Posted July 16 2008, 8.54am
Several regional variations of BBC One and ITV appear on Freesat as officials say more change is imminent. (more)

TV ratings - July 14: New Tricks conjures up 8.1m viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted July 15 2008, 10.14am
BBC1's cop drama New Tricks lost 600,000 viewers on its second outing, but still easily beat ITV1 opposition Police Camera Action! By Leigh Homwood (more)

BBC One outsings ITV1 on Saturday night
From Digital Spy. Posted July 14 2008, 7.02pm
BBC One reality comp Last Choir Standing outdid ITV1's Who Dares Sings! by nearly 1m viewers on Saturday night. (more)

TV ratings - July 12: Casualty bears up well
From Media Guardian. Posted July 14 2008, 11.22am
BBC1's veteran hospital drama Casualty was the most popular show in a quiet night for the main channels. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

TV ratings - July 13: George Gently loses battle of detectives
From Media Guardian. Posted July 14 2008, 10.49am
Sunday: BBC1's new Martin Shaw drama George Gently was beaten by both ITV1's Midsomer Murders and BBC2's Top Gear. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Bonekickers: Digging deep to rival Life on Mars success
From The Independent. Posted July 14 2008, 12.00am
It was when they were strolling down Oxford Street in central London during the first series of BBC1's Life on Mars two years ago that Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah, the creators of that memorable time-travel drama, realised they had a major hit on their hands. Pharaoh takes up the story. "A man walked past wearing a T-shirt which carried the famous line said by Gene Hunt [the Neanderthal 1970's copper who has since become an unlikely cult hero] in the very first episode of Life on Mars: 'It's 1973. Nearly dinner time. I'm 'aving hoops!' That was the moment when I first thought, 'what have we created here?'" (more)

TV ratings - July 9: Cars, Cops and Criminals attracts 4.9m viewers for BBC1
From Media Guardian. Posted July 10 2008, 10.32am
BBC1's new series Cars, Cops and Criminals launched with almost 5 million viewers. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons (more)

'Bonekickers' unearths 6.8m for BBC One
From Digital Spy. Posted July 9 2008, 12.20pm
New drama Bonekickers, co-created by the makers of Life On Mars, earns a decent audience for BBC One. (more)

TV ratings - July 8: Bonekickers on BBC1 attracts 6.8m viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted July 9 2008, 10.19am
Bonekickers, BBC1's flashy new drama about a group of feisty West Country archaeologists, launched with an impressive 6.8 million viewers. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

BBC Trust report: BBC1 urged to strive for quality
From Media Guardian. Posted July 8 2008, 12.41pm
The BBC Trust has called on the new BBC1 controller, Jay Hunt, to reach the heights of quality programming 'more frequently'. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC annual report: BBC1 urged to strive for quality
From Media Guardian. Posted July 8 2008, 12.41pm
The BBC Trust has called on the new BBC1 controller, Jay Hunt, to reach the heights of quality programming 'more frequently'. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC1 works ratings magic with 'New Tricks'
From Digital Spy. Posted July 8 2008, 11.53am
The return of detective drama New Tricks drew a large audience to BBC One last night. (more)

Fire alarm takes BBC Scotland news off air
From Digital Spy. Posted July 8 2008, 10.34am
The flagship BBC One news programme in Scotland was forced off air by a fire alarm last night. (more)

TV ratings - July 7: New series of BBC1's New Tricks wins 9 million viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted July 8 2008, 10.08am
BBC1's popular detective drama New Tricks returned strongly for the start of a new series last night, attracting nearly 9 million viewers in the 9pm hour. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - July 7: New series of BBC1's New Tricks wins 8.7 million viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted July 8 2008, 10.08am
BBC1's popular detective drama New Tricks returned strongly for the start of a new series last night, attracting almost 9 million viewers in the 9pm hour. By Ben Dowell (more)

Wimbledon final peaks with 12.7m
From Digital Spy. Posted July 7 2008, 5.21pm
A nail-biting five-set Wimbledon men's singles final drew a peak audience of 12.7m to BBC One last night. (more)

TV ratings - July 4: Criminal Justice ends stretch with 4.5m
From Media Guardian. Posted July 7 2008, 11.24am
BBC1's drama Criminal Justice concluded with 4.5 million viewers. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

My Mentor: Greg Burns on Jonathan Ross
From The Independent. Posted July 7 2008, 12.00am
I watched Jonathan Ross on television from the age of 11 or 12. There was nobody like him on BBC1 at the time. I wouldn't have been aware of the American chat show influences that he drew from, such as David Letterman and Jay Leno, but I was intrigued by him. He was so different, and the forerunner for the Channel 4 revolution that came later. (more)

'Street' creator to make BBC1 daytime dramas
From Digital Spy. Posted July 4 2008, 2.09pm
The Street creator Jimmy McGovern is making five dramas exploring "contemporary issues" for BBC One daytime. (more)

?Yes, Minister? writer calls for slimmed-down BBC
From Media Network Weblog. Posted July 4 2008, 12.49pm
The BBC should be slimmed down to just one television and one radio channel, the co-writer of the “Yes, Minister” political satire said today. As it is funded by a tax on all television-owning households, the BBC should focus on BBC1 and Radio 4 to produce more distinctive programmes, Sir Anthony Jay said in a [...] (more)

Murray's Wimbledon exit seen by 7.7m
From Digital Spy. Posted July 4 2008, 9.20am
Andy Murray's Wimbledon exit drew a peak audience of 7.7m to BBC One on Wednesday. (more)

Viewers complain after BBC News broadcasts Jerusalem shooting
From Media Guardian. Posted July 3 2008, 2.52pm
BBC News has received 61 complaints after its 10pm bulletin on BBC1 showed police shooting dead the man who drove a bulldozer into vehicles in Jerusalem yesterday. By Tara Conlan (more)

Gough, Du Beke join BBC1 "human Tetris"
From Digital Spy. Posted July 3 2008, 12.26pm
A BBC One gameshow series dubbed "human Tetris" will feature Dale Winton, Darren Gough and Anton Du Beke. (more)

Winton to front 'human Tetris' series?
From Digital Spy. Posted July 3 2008, 8.04am
Dale Winton is reportedly in line to present a BBC One series based on a Japanese game dubbed "human Tetris". (more)

BBC announces 'human Tetris' gameshow Hole in the Wall
From Media Guardian. Posted July 2 2008, 3.43pm
BBC1 is to air a new family Saturday night entertainment show called Hole in the Wall developed from a hit Japanese format. By Tara Conlan (more)

TV ratings - July 1: Criminal Justice arrests 4.8m
From Media Guardian. Posted July 2 2008, 10.12am
The second episode of BBC1 thriller Criminal Justice attracted nearly 5 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

Extended tennis coverage pays off for BBC
From Digital Spy. Posted July 2 2008, 8.28am
A changed schedule for coverage of Andy Murray's Wimbledon win brought in a BBC One audience peak of 10.4m on Monday. (more)

Alex Kingston to lead BBC One drama
From Digital Spy. Posted July 2 2008, 6.22am
Ex-ER actress Alex Kingston joins a new BBC One drama about a group of female ex-cons. (more)

EastEnders to tackle child abuse
From Media Guardian. Posted July 2 2008, 6.16am
BBC1 soap EastEnders is to tackle the subject of child sex abuse for the first time in a potentially controversial storyline to be screened later this year. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

EastEnders to tackle child sex abuse
From Media Guardian. Posted July 2 2008, 6.16am
BBC1 soap EastEnders is to tackle the subject of child sex abuse for the first time in a potentially controversial storyline to be screened later this year, involving Bianca Jackson's stepdaughter Whitney. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

TV ratings - June 28: Doctor Who and Wimbledon lift BBC1 to top slot
From Media Guardian. Posted June 30 2008, 11.51am
ITV1 suffered what is believed to be its worst Saturday ratings, with BBC1 winning the whole day bar 15 minutes and Doctor Who pulling in the most viewers (more)

TV ratings: Euro 2008 final scores 10m viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted June 30 2008, 10.30am
BBC1's live coverage of the Germany v Spain final attracted the best audience of the Euro 2008 tournament. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - June 29: Euro 2008 final scores 10m viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted June 30 2008, 10.30am
BBC1's live coverage of the Germany v Spain final attracted the best audience of the Euro 2008 tournament. By Ben Dowell (more)

Alex Kingston to play convict in BBC1 drama Hope Springs
From Media Guardian. Posted June 30 2008, 6.13am
ER and Doctor Who actor Alex Kingston is to star in BBC1's new drama Hope Springs, about four female former convicts who try to create a new life for themselves. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Andrew Anthony on television: When Tim is sent to commentary
From Media Guardian. Posted June 28 2008, 11.08pm
Andrew Anthony on television: Wimbledon BBC1, Euro 2008 semi-final, Top Gear BBC2, Gok's Fashion Fix C4, Upstairs Downstairs Love C4 (more)

Bowker pens Iraq drama for BBC1
From The Stage. Posted June 27 2008, 4.20pm
(more)

TV ratings: BBC footy audience soars despite thunderstorm
From Media Guardian. Posted June 26 2008, 12.40pm
BBC1 attracted one of the biggest audiences of Euro 2008 so far, for Germany's thrilling semi-final win over Turkey - despite disruption to the coverage due to a thunderstorm. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons (more)

TV ratings: BBC footie audience soars despite thunderstorm
From Media Guardian. Posted June 26 2008, 12.40pm
BBC1 attracted one of the biggest audiences of Euro 2008 so far, for Germany's thrilling semi-final win over Turkey - despite disruption to the coverage due to a thunderstorm. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons (more)

TV ratings - June 23: BBC's Primark Panorama documentary watched by 4.2m
From Media Guardian. Posted June 24 2008, 10.28am
An hour-long Panorama special about the high street clothes retailer Primark that BBC1 parachuted into the schedule was watched by 4.2 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

HD 'Criminal Justice' delayed by Wimbledon
From Digital Spy. Posted June 23 2008, 6.20pm
New drama Criminal Justice will begin airing in HD more than a week after its BBC One transmission. (more)

TV ratings - June 20: 6m watch Turkey beat Croatia on penalties
From Media Guardian. Posted June 23 2008, 2.01pm
BBC1's coverage of the Turkey v Croatia Euro 2008 quarter final was watched by nearly 6 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

'Robin Hood' spoilers surface
From Digital Spy. Posted June 23 2008, 10.22am
The new series of BBC One's Robin Hood will feature the death of another major character. (more)

TV ratings - June 17: France v Italy scores Euro 2008 audience high
From Media Guardian. Posted June 18 2008, 11.27am
Coverage of the France v Italy match on BBC1 attracted 6.5 million viewers - the highest figures so far for the tournament. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - June 16: Austria's Euro 2008 pulls in 5m
From Media Guardian. Posted June 17 2008, 10.31am
The Euro 2008 match in which co-hosts Austria were knocked out by Germany attracted almost 5 million viewers to BBC1. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

TV ratings - June 14: BBC1 scores against Euro 2008
From Media Guardian. Posted June 16 2008, 12.45pm
ITV's live coverage of the Euro 2008 Greece v Russia game on Saturday night averaged nearly 4 million viewers, but lost out to BBC1. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC1 to air Criminal Justice over five consecutive nights
From Media Guardian. Posted June 13 2008, 6.11am
BBC1 is to screen new thriller Criminal Justice over five consecutive nights - the first time it has scheduled a drama in such a way. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

TV ratings - June 11: Apprentice final attracts record audience
From Media Guardian. Posted June 12 2008, 9.06am
The final of The Apprentice attracted nearly 9 million viewers on BBC1 – the show's best ever figures. By Tara Conlan (more)

BBC1: Trust rules out Scottish 6pm news bulletin
From Media Guardian. Posted June 11 2008, 10.45am
BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons has scuppered the idea of a separate BBC1 Scottish 6pm news bulletin for now but left the door open for it to be introduced in future. By Tara Conlan (more)

TV ratings - June 6: Strong audience for The Weakest Link Apprentice special
From Media Guardian. Posted June 9 2008, 12.40pm
A BBC1 The Weakest Link episode featuring some of the most memorable past and present contestants from The Apprentice attracted 3.4 million viewers. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Hammond to front BBC1 kids' science show
From Digital Spy. Posted June 5 2008, 12.30pm
Richard Hammond is to front a science gameshow, jointly produced by his own new indie, for BBC One. (more)

TV ratings - June 4: The Apprentice fires ahead with 7.5m viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted June 5 2008, 11.35am
The Apprentice hit yet another new series ratings high on BBC1 with an average of 7.5 million viewers tuning in. By Tara Conlan (more)

BBC working on science show to become the successor Tomorrow's World
From Media Guardian. Posted June 4 2008, 2.33pm
Developing a Tomorrow's World-style science show is one of BBC1's top priorities for the next year. By Tara Conlan (more)

TV ratings - June 2: The Great British Body debut draws 3.6m viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted June 3 2008, 11.15am
Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine's new show The Great British Body was beaten by more than a million viewers by BBC1's Crimewatch. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

TV ratings - June 1: Florence Nightingale drama brings healthy result for BBC1
From Media Guardian. Posted June 2 2008, 12.40pm
BBC1's drama about Victorian nurse Florence Nightingale drew 4.7 million viewers to BBC1. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings: Britain's Got Talent wins talent tussle
From Media Guardian. Posted June 2 2008, 10.23am
The results show for ITV1's Britain's Got Talent drew an audience of 13.1m beating BBC1 rival I'd Do Anything. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - May 30: Britain's Got Talent wins reality tussle
From Media Guardian. Posted June 2 2008, 10.23am
The results show for ITV1's Britain's Got Talent drew an audience of 13.1m beating BBC1 rival I'd Do Anything. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - May 31: Britain's Got Talent wins reality tussle
From Media Guardian. Posted June 2 2008, 10.23am
The results show for ITV1's Britain's Got Talent drew an audience of 13.1m beating BBC1 rival I'd Do Anything. By Ben Dowell (more)

'Jonathan Creek' revived for Xmas special
From Digital Spy. Posted June 1 2008, 7.34am
BBC One is planning a Jonathan Creek Christmas special nearly five years after the series ended. (more)

BBC1 plans 'Survivor' remake for autumn
From Digital Spy. Posted May 31 2008, 11.10am
A remake of post-apocalyptic 1970s series Survivors is in production for BBC One in the autumn. (more)

BBC in hot water over Blackpool swearing
From Digital Spy. Posted May 27 2008, 12.39pm
BBC One allows "one of the most offensive words" to slip out pre-watershed in a fly-on-the-wall doc. (more)

TV ratings: 7.1m UK viewers tune into Eurovision
From Media Guardian. Posted May 27 2008, 12.22pm
BBC1's Eurovision Song Contest coverage pulled in an average of 7.1 million viewers but lost out to ITV1's Britain's Got Talent. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons (more)

TV ratings: 7.1m UK viewers tune in to Eurovision
From Media Guardian. Posted May 27 2008, 12.22pm
BBC1's Eurovision Song Contest coverage pulled in an average of 7.1 million viewers but lost out to ITV1's Britain's Got Talent. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons (more)

'Invisibles', 'Midnight Man' neck-and-neck
From Digital Spy. Posted May 27 2008, 10.22am
BBC One's The Invisibles won a narrow ratings victory over ITV1's new drama offering last night. (more)

BBC1 plans new crime thriller series
From Digital Spy. Posted May 22 2008, 2.58pm
BBC One lines up a new high-profile crime thriller series for the summer. (more)

BBC apologises to Jonathan Garratt over 'defamatory' epsiode of TV drama
From Media Guardian. Posted May 21 2008, 2.24pm
The BBC has apologised on air and agreed to pay legal costs over an allegedly defamatory episode of BBC1 forensic drama Waking the Dead. By Tara Conlan (more)

Little interest in operating a sports TV channel in Azerbaijan
From Media Network Weblog. Posted May 20 2008, 4.27pm
Azerbaijan National Television & Radio Council will prolong the tender period for opening a sports channel in Azerbaijan. “The situation is not an optimistic one. Almost nobody has joined the tender. Therefore, the tender period will be prolonged for another month,” Chairman of the Television & Radio Council Nushiravan Maharramli said to Trend News. According to [...] (more)

Steven Moffat to replace Russell T Davies as Doctor Who lead writer and executive producer
From Media Guardian. Posted May 20 2008, 3.05pm
Scriptwriter Steven Moffat has been named lead writer and executive producer on hit BBC1 drama Doctor Who. By Ben Dowell (more)

BBC to air drama about downloading child pornography
From Media Guardian. Posted May 19 2008, 12.53pm
Gina McKee and Jeremy Northam will star in BBC1's drama about a family torn apart when the husband downloads child pornography. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Gina McKee and Jeremy Northam star in BBC child pornography drama
From Media Guardian. Posted May 19 2008, 12.53pm
Gina McKee and Jeremy Northam will star in BBC1's drama about a family torn apart when the husband downloads child pornography. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Terrestrial TV ratings - May 17: FA Cup final scores a ratings victory
From Media Guardian. Posted May 19 2008, 12.30pm
Portsmouth's 1-0 victory over Cardiff in the final of the FA Cup peaked at 8.2 million viewers in the final 15 minutes of game play on BBC1. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons (more)

TV ratings - May 17: FA Cup final scores a ratings victory
From Media Guardian. Posted May 19 2008, 12.30pm
Portsmouth's 1-0 victory over Cardiff in the final of the FA Cup peaked at 8.2 million viewers in the final half hour of game play on BBC1. By Caitlin Fitzsimmons (more)

Terrestrial TV ratings - May 18: Indiana Jones fights off rivals
From Media Guardian. Posted May 19 2008, 11.28am
A timely BBC1 repeat of the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was watched by 7.3 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - May 18: Indiana Jones fights off rivals
From Media Guardian. Posted May 19 2008, 11.28am
A timely BBC1 repeat of the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was watched by 7.3 million viewers. By Ben Dowell (more)

William Leith on the weekend's TV
From Media Guardian. Posted May 18 2008, 11.03pm
William Leith on Mad Men (BBC4) and Match of the Day Live (BBC1) (more)

BBC takes more 'Waking', 'Silent Witness'
From Digital Spy. Posted May 16 2008, 12.27pm
BBC One dramas Waking the Dead and Silent Witness will return for new series next year. (more)

TV ratings - May 16: Invisibles trio challenge Midnight Man
From Media Guardian. Posted May 16 2008, 11.58am
BBC1 drama The Invisibles closed the gap on its ITV1 rival Midnight Man to 200,000 viewers. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Missing Live to return to BBC1
From Media Guardian. Posted May 16 2008, 11.23am
BBC1's daytime show Missing Live, which attempts to reunite missing people with their families, has been recommissioned after a successful first run. By Tara Conlan (more)

TV ratings - May 12: Duke battles drama for ratings honours
From Media Guardian. Posted May 13 2008, 10.19am
ITV's profile of the Duke of Edinburgh drew an impressive 5.3 million viewers, challenging BBC1's Waking the Dead. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - May 8: Midnight Man makes strong debut for ITV1
From Media Guardian. Posted May 9 2008, 3.25pm
ITV1's new James Nesbitt drama Midnight Man won the 9pm slot last night, Thursday, seeing off BBC1's Warren Clarke series The Invisibles. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Daytime soap Out of the Blue switched to BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted May 7 2008, 3.11pm
Neighbours replacement Out of the Blue is being switched from BBC1 to BBC2 less than a month after it premiered. By Tara Conlan (more)

TV ratings - May 6: Eastenders in Dead heat
From Media Guardian. Posted May 7 2008, 12.01pm
BBC1 drama Waking the Dead pulled in the same audience as EastEnders and 300,000 more viewers than Emmerdale on a night when the soaps cancelled each other. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

BBC Vision celebrates 100% subtitling
From BBC Press Ofice. Posted May 7 2008, 10.30am
BBC Vision has confirmed that it has reached its target of subtitling 100 of programmes on its main channelsBBC One BBC Two BBC Three BBC Four CBeebies CBBC and BBC News. (more)

Jones to star in Little Dorrit on BBC1
From The Stage. Posted May 6 2008, 7.20pm
(more)

TV ratings - May 2: BBC's satirical quiz beats Benidorm
From Media Guardian. Posted May 6 2008, 12.15pm
BBC1 had the upper hand over ITV1 in the topsy-turvy battle of the 9pm comedy shows when Have I Got News for You beat Benidorm. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

'The Invisibles' secure 4.7m for BBC1
From Digital Spy. Posted May 2 2008, 2.36pm
New comedy drama The Invisibles won its 9pm slot for BBC One last night, viewing figures show. (more)

TV ratings - May 1: The Invisibles steals 9pm slot for BBC1
From Media Guardian. Posted May 2 2008, 11.46am
The BBC's new comedy about two ageing criminals won a competitive 9pm slot, making off with 4.7 million viewers. By Alex Delaney (more)

New Aussie soap makes decent debut
From Digital Spy. Posted April 29 2008, 3.22pm
New Australian soap Out of the Blue makes a decent debut on BBC One. (more)

Nancys pip 'Mr and Mrs' in the ratings
From Digital Spy. Posted April 28 2008, 4.44pm
BBC One reality show I'd Do Anything beat ITV1's All Star Mr and Mrs in the Saturday night ratings. (more)

Zattoo adds BBC One, BBC Two, ITV
From Digital Spy. Posted April 28 2008, 2.41pm
Linear internet television application Zattoo begins carrying BBC One, BBC Two and ITV. (more)

TV ratings - April 26: Sun shines on ITV1's Benidorm
From Media Guardian. Posted April 28 2008, 12.14pm
Benidorm wrested the 9pm comedy crown back, after two weeks of being beaten by the BBC1 competition. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

TV ratings - April 21: Waking dream for BBC
From Media Guardian. Posted April 22 2008, 9.51am
BBC1's police drama Waking the Dead continued to win the drama head-to-head with ITV1 as 6.3 million watched the first episode of the latest two-parter. By Ben Dowell (more)

TV ratings - April 18: Triumphant return for satirical quiz
From Media Guardian. Posted April 21 2008, 11.28am
Have I Got News For You made a strong return to BBC1, pulling in 5.9 million viewers and beating ITV1's sitcom Benidorm. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

TV ratings - April 20: Baftas watched by 5.6 million
From Media Guardian. Posted April 21 2008, 10.46am
The Bafta television awards had their best audience for four years as 5.6 million viewers tuned into BBC1's coverage. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

Steve Coogan to star as gambling addict in BBC1 Craig Cash sitcom
From Media Guardian. Posted April 21 2008, 6.28am
Comedian Steve Coogan is to star as a gambling addict in a new BBC1 comedy drama co-written by Craig Cash. By Ben Dowell (more)

Comedies have the last laugh at Baftas
From Media Guardian. Posted April 20 2008, 11.03pm
Harry Hill and Gavin & Stacey win two awards, but disappointment for BBC1's period drama Cranford (more)

TV ratings - April 16: The Apprentice snaps up 7m viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted April 17 2008, 10.42am
BBC1's business reality programme continued to build its audience, hitting the 7 million viewer mark as its contestants took on a photography challenge. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

BBC 10pm news share is double ITV's
From Media Guardian. Posted April 17 2008, 6.21am
BBC1's 10pm news has attracted nearly double the audience of News at Ten over the three months since the ITV1 bulletin was revived. By Tara Conlan (more)

BBC 10pm news audience is double ITV's News at Ten
From Media Guardian. Posted April 17 2008, 6.21am
BBC1's 10pm news has attracted nearly double the audience of News at Ten over the three months since the ITV1 bulletin was revived. By Tara Conlan (more)

'Waking the Dead' shoots down 'Fixer'
From Digital Spy. Posted April 15 2008, 4.09pm
The return of BBC1's Waking the Dead won more than twice the audience of its ITV1 rival, figures show. (more)

TV ratings - April 14: Waking the Dead is an early riser
From Media Guardian. Posted April 15 2008, 10.41am
BBC1's Waking The Dead returned for a new series with 6.8 million viewers, more than twice the audience watching the final episode of ITV1's The Fixer. By John Plunkett (more)

TV ratings: April 11 - My Family overruns Benidorm
From Media Guardian. Posted April 14 2008, 12.11pm
The start of a new series of long-running BBC1 sitcom My Family knocked ITV1's Benidorm off its perch on Friday night. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

TV ratings – April 11: My Family overruns Benidorm
From Media Guardian. Posted April 14 2008, 12.11pm
The start of a new series of the long-running BBC1 sitcom My Family knocked ITV1's Benidorm off its perch on Friday night. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

Ofcom clears Catherine Tate show over swearing on Christmas Day
From Media Guardian. Posted April 14 2008, 12.00pm
Ofcom has cleared BBC1's Catherine Tate Show of breaching broadcast regulations with an expletive-littered Christmas Day episode. By John Plunkett (more)

BBC One may make "human Tetris" series
From Digital Spy. Posted April 12 2008, 12.00pm
BBC One may develop a "human Tetris"-style gameshow series. (more)

TV ratings - April 9: The Apprentice hits new high
From Media Guardian. Posted April 11 2008, 12.50pm
The latest installment of BBC1's business boot camp, in which Ian Stringer was fired, pulled in 6.9 million viewers. By Tara Conlan (more)

Strictly Come Dancing star Gethin Jones leaves Blue Peter
From Media Guardian. Posted April 8 2008, 4.52pm
Blue Peter presenter Gethin Jones is leaving after two years at BBC1's flagship children's programme. By Ben Dowell (more)

Capital Scene of Another Murder Mystery
From allmediascotland - Spike. Posted April 8 2008, 7.47am
Filming has begun in Edinburgh on a 75-minute drama for BBC One. ‘Purves & Pekkala’ is being described as a ‘murder mystery’ and has been written by Annie Griffin, the locally-based author of two successful screenplays, The Book Group (for... (more)

Gatiss to lead BBC1 sleuth drama Purves and Pekkala
From The Stage. Posted April 7 2008, 12.20pm
(more)

League of Gentlemen star Mark Gatiss to star in BBC whodunit
From Media Guardian. Posted April 7 2008, 5.47am
A one-off murder mystery involving starring The League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss and This Life's Daniela Nardini has been commissioned by BBC1. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

The great telly shuffle
From Media Guardian. Posted April 6 2008, 11.02pm
On May 12, new channel controllers take up posts at BBC1, ITV and Channel Five. What will their first days be like? By Stephen Armstrong (more)

ITV1, BBC1 to air nearly all Euro 2008
From Digital Spy. Posted April 4 2008, 2.12pm
Nearly all coverage of this year's Euro 2008 will be on the broadcasters' flagship channels. (more)

'The Bill' leads 'HolbyBlue' in cop battle
From Digital Spy. Posted April 4 2008, 2.05pm
BBC One police drama HolbyBlue trails ITV1 mainstay The Bill in the ratings. (more)

'Rock Rivals' leaves ITV1 in fourth place
From Digital Spy. Posted April 4 2008, 10.26am
BBC One, Channel 4 and Five shows outgun ITV1 as Rock Rivals attracts its lowest audience yet. (more)

BBC period drama Cranford cleans up at BPG awards
From Media Guardian. Posted April 4 2008, 6.39am
BBC1 period drama Cranford shone at this year's Broadcasting Press Guild awards, picking up four gongs - more than any other show. By Tara Conlan (more)

Fincham, Hunt and Gale to start on May 12
From Digital Spy. Posted April 3 2008, 4.18pm
Peter Fincham, Jay Hunt and Ben Gale will start new jobs controlling ITV1, BBC One and Five on May 12. (more)

NBC buys BBC family drama Merlin
From Media Guardian. Posted April 3 2008, 2.41pm
NBC has bought BBC1's new family drama Merlin and will air it in a key peak time slot, in an almost unprecedented move for a US terrestrial network. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

TV ratings - April 2: The Apprentice stays in charge of its rivals
From Media Guardian. Posted April 3 2008, 10.04am
BBC1's The Apprentice continued its huge lead in the 9pm battle as ITV1's underperforming drama Rock Rivals was pushed into fourth place in the slot. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

TV ratings - April 2: The Apprentice hangs rivals out to dry
From Media Guardian. Posted April 3 2008, 10.04am
BBC1's The Apprentice continued its huge lead in the 9pm battle as ITV1's underperforming drama Rock Rivals was pushed into fourth place in the slot. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Jay Hunt, Peter Fincham and Ben Gale set to start new jobs on May 12
From Media Guardian. Posted April 2 2008, 12.08pm
The new heads of BBC1, ITV1 and Channel Five will all start work on May 12. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

'Coppers' falls to period 'Casualty'
From Digital Spy. Posted April 1 2008, 9.19am
BBC One's Casualty spinoff set in 1907 trounces ITV1's He Kills Coppers in the ratings. (more)

BBC brings Cranford back for two-part Christmas special
From Media Guardian. Posted March 31 2008, 6.08am
Dame Judi Dench is to reprise her role as Miss Matty Jenkyns in BBC1's period drama Cranford in a Christmas special. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

'My Family' gets two more series
From Digital Spy. Posted March 28 2008, 4.59pm
BBC One orders two more series of My Family. (more)

Closing 'Ashes' brings 5.4m to BBC1
From Digital Spy. Posted March 28 2008, 1.12pm
Retro cop drama Ashes to Ashes ends its first season to 5.4m viewers. (more)

Davies: BBC has 'cocked up' 'Who' time
From Digital Spy. Posted March 28 2008, 12.35pm
Russell T Davies criticises BBC One's decision to move Doctor Who from 7pm to 6.20pm (more)

TV ratings - March 28: Ashes still smouldering for BBC1
From Media Guardian. Posted March 28 2008, 11.33am
BBC1's time travel cop drama Ashes to Ashes bowed out with 5.4 million viewers. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

TV ratings - March 27: Ashes still smouldering for BBC1
From Media Guardian. Posted March 28 2008, 11.33am
BBC1's time travel cop drama Ashes to Ashes bowed out with 5.4 million viewers. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Ashes to Ashes to return for second series
From Media Guardian. Posted March 27 2008, 2.43pm
Retro BBC1 police drama Ashes to Ashes will return for a second series next year. By Stephen Brook (more)

BBC orders two more series of My Family
From Media Guardian. Posted March 27 2008, 10.08am
The BBC has ordered a further two series of popular BBC1 comedy My Family, which will see the show stay on air until at least 2009. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

First Night: The Apprentice, BBC1
From The Independent. Posted March 27 2008, 12.00am
One of the most important lessons for any aspiring business tycoon is that you cannot overestimate the importance of stating the obvious and eliminating all possible ambiguity. Thus Sir Alan Sugar explained to the 16 hopefuls queuing up work for him on The Apprentice: "Mary Poppins I am not" (just in case any of them thought they had ended up on House Of Tiny Tearaways by mistake). (more)

Cranford dominates Bafta craft awards
From Media Guardian. Posted March 26 2008, 11.39am
BBC1 period drama Cranford has received seven nominations in this year's Bafta craft awards. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

'Cranford' leads BAFTA Craft nominations
From Digital Spy. Posted March 26 2008, 10.34am
BBC One's costume drama Cranford picks up seven nominations at the BAFTA Craft Awards. (more)

BBC1's 'Detective' wipes out 'Coppers'
From Digital Spy. Posted March 25 2008, 1.03pm
BBC One's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency beats He Kills Coppers on ITV1 in an Easter drama battle. (more)

ITV1 takes away viewers from BBC1
From Media Guardian. Posted March 25 2008, 11.36am
Ant and Dec saw off BBC1's Oliver Twist reality show I'd Do Anything collecting 1.3m more viewers than its BBC rival. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

TV ratings - March 22: ITV1 takes away viewers from BBC1
From Media Guardian. Posted March 25 2008, 11.36am
Ant and Dec saw off BBC1's Oliver Twist reality show I'd Do Anything collecting 1.3 million more viewers than its BBC rival. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Minghella's last film watched by 6.3m
From Media Guardian. Posted March 25 2008, 11.17am
Anthony Minghella's final film, The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which aired on BBC1 just days after his death, was watched by more than 6 million viewers. By John Plunkett (more)

TV ratings - March 23: Minghella's last film watched by 6.3m
From Media Guardian. Posted March 25 2008, 11.17am
Anthony Minghella's final film, The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which aired on BBC1 just days after his death, was watched by more than 6 million viewers. By John Plunkett (more)

O'Grady takes teatime cake
From Media Guardian. Posted March 18 2008, 2.46pm
Channel 4's Paul O'Grady Show beat BBC1's The Weakest Link and Jasper Carrott's Golden Balls when it returned for a new series. By John Plunkett (more)

'I'd Do Anything' makes weak debut
From Digital Spy. Posted March 17 2008, 2.52pm
New BBC One reality show I'd Do Anything fails to dent Ant and Dec's Saturday night audience. (more)

Sport Relief pulls in punters to BBC1
From Media Guardian. Posted March 17 2008, 2.03pm
BBC1's Sport Relief extravaganza peaked with 7.5 million viewers. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

The greatest story ever retold
From Media Guardian. Posted March 16 2008, 12.07am
TV: The Observer's multifaith team of experts give their reactions to BBC1's Easter television drama The Passion (more)

Sport on TV: A brush with royalty but not 'Off with his head'
From The Independent. Posted March 16 2008, 12.00am
Sport Relief came up with the intriguing concept of 'Sport Portraits' (BBC1, Monday and Tuesday), with five celebrated artists (and ex-cricketer Jack Russell) painting portraits of four sporting icons for a charity auction. The pop artist Sir Peter Blake, Jack Vettriano, Stella Vine, cartoonist Gerald Scarfe and photographer Rankin depicted the royal three-day eventer Zara Phillips, boxing funnyman Ricky Hatton and football's Fabio Capello and Didier Drogba. (more)

'Ashes', 'Waterloo' triumph for BBC One
From Digital Spy. Posted March 15 2008, 12.20pm
BBC One leads Thursday night viewing with strong audiences for Waterloo Road and Ashes to Ashes. (more)

School drama gets top marks
From Media Guardian. Posted March 14 2008, 11.23am
The final episode of BBC1's school drama Waterloo Road saw off ITV1's The Bill in the 8pm slot. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

'Mistresses' to return for second series
From Digital Spy. Posted March 13 2008, 3.10pm
BBC One commissions a second series of Mistresses. (more)

Apprentice fires broadside at ITV rival
From Media Guardian. Posted March 13 2008, 11.59am
The return of The Apprentice to BBC1 for a one-off Sport Relief celebrity special helped condemn ITV1's Rock Rivals to more ratings woe. By Jason Deans (more)

Mistresses to return to BBC1 next year
From Media Guardian. Posted March 13 2008, 11.13am
BBC1's drama about the love lives of a group of Bristol women, Mistresses, will return next year for a second series. By Stephen Brook (more)

BBC1 making thriller from 'Hustle' director
From Digital Spy. Posted March 12 2008, 4.04pm
A psychological thriller series from the director of Hustle is in production for BBC One. (more)

Richard Wilson cast in BBC's 'Merlin'
From Digital Spy. Posted March 11 2008, 10.33am
Richard Wilson is to star in BBC One's drama series about King Arthur and the wizard Merlin. (more)

BBC goes one up on ITV
From Media Guardian. Posted March 10 2008, 12.24pm
A packed day of sport on BBC1 on Saturday drew nearly 9 million viewers. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Up from the ashes
From Media Guardian. Posted March 7 2008, 11.52am
BBC1's time travel cop drama Ashes to Ashes added 800,000 viewers last night, attracting 6.6 million. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

New editor for BBC's Question Time
From Media Guardian. Posted March 5 2008, 4.57pm
ITV News political producer Gill Penlington has been appointed editor of BBC1's flagship current affairs discussion show, Question Time. By Tara Conlan (more)

Royal documentary is US ratings hit
From Media Guardian. Posted March 5 2008, 11.59am
An edited-down version of the BBC1 'Crowngate' series has picked up the US ABC network's highest rating for its 20/20 current affairs strand for five years. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

ITV announces 35 per cent profit decline
From The Times. Posted March 5 2008, 7.53am
ITV, which last week appointed former BBC One controller Peter Fincham as director of television to replace Simon Shaps, said today that last year's pre-tax profits plunged by more than a third to £188 million. (more)

Equity in 'exploitation' row with Endemol
From Media Guardian. Posted March 4 2008, 1.34pm
Big Brother producer Endemol has been accused of exploitation and breaking employment law by refusing to pay contestants on the BBC1 tribute act show The One And Only at least the national minimum wage (more)

6.1 million watch Attenborough bow out
From Media Guardian. Posted March 4 2008, 12.52pm
The last ever appearance of David Attenborough in a major natural history series attracted just over 6 million viewers to BBC1. By Ben Dowell (more)

Good appetite for 'Love Soup' revival
From Digital Spy. Posted March 3 2008, 2.39pm
The first of a revival of Love Soup wins its Saturday night slot for BBC One. (more)

Lewis beats BBC enemy
From Media Guardian. Posted March 3 2008, 12.00pm
BBC1's hi-tech conspiracy thriller The Last Enemy was trounced by ITV1's detective drama Lewis on Sunday night. By Maria Esposito (more)

Sport on TV: Auntie Beeb itching for a fight as old silverware is scrapped
From The Independent. Posted March 2 2008, 12.00am
When something is comic and tragic all at once, surely it's worth waiting for? So it may have taken three hours and 24 minutes for Middlesbrough to score the solitary goal that beat Sheffield United in the FA Cup (BBC1, Wednesday), but it was a moment of exquisite drama. If it wasn't the grand old "romance of the Cup", the tribulation of Paddy Kenny was at the very least heartbreaking. (more)

Judgment day for clergymen at The Passion's premiere
From Media Guardian. Posted March 1 2008, 12.17am
Leading clerics attend screening of Christ story to be screened on BBC1 this Easter (more)

Judgment day for BBC's premiere of the Passion
From Media Guardian. Posted March 1 2008, 12.17am
Leading clerics attend screening of Christ story to be screened on BBC1 this Easter (more)

Grade replaces Shaps in radical ITV shake-up
From Financial Times. Posted February 29 2008, 1.49am
Michael Grade appoints former BBC1 controller Peter Fincham as the new head of programming in a revamp of senior management, setting in place a succession race for his job (more)

Ex-BBC1controller set for battle with successor after switching sides
From Media Guardian. Posted February 29 2008, 12.11am
Peter Fincham agrees to take on the formidable challenge of rebuilding ITV (more)

BBC 'scapegoat' could become saviour of ITV
From Daily Telegraph. Posted February 29 2008, 12.01am
Last October, after the "Tiaragate" fiasco, BBC director general Mark Thompson saw good reason to sacrifice Peter Fincham as controller of BBC1. (more)

ITV pins hopes on 'Crowngate' controller
From The Independent. Posted February 29 2008, 12.00am
It was a black moment for Peter Fincham last October when he was forced to resignas controller of BBC1 over the "Crowngate" affair involving a misleading press trailer for a documentary about the Queen. (more)

BBC1 controller ousted over Queen row signs for opposition
From The Scotsman. Posted February 29 2008, 12.00am
PETER Fincham, the BBC 1 controller who lost his job over a documentary about the Queen, is joining rival ITV. (more)

'He's going to love sticking it to BBC One'
From Media Guardian. Posted February 28 2008, 5.41pm
Emily Bell, Owen Gibson, and John Plunkett discuss the appointment of Peter Fincham and the rest of the shake-up at ITV (more)

Peter Fincham Joins ITV
From Merry Media. Posted February 28 2008, 1.53pm
Peter Fincham is joining ITV as Director of Television, four months after quitting as Controller of BBC One following a row about a documentary on Queen Elizabeth. . (more)

Former BBC One boss moves to ITV
From BBC News. Posted February 28 2008, 8.55am
Peter Fincham, the former head of BBC One, joins the commercial broadcaster as director of television. (more)

Former BBC boss moves to ITV
From BBC News. Posted February 28 2008, 8.55am
Peter Fincham, the former head of BBC One, joins the commercial broadcaster as director of television. (more)

Simon Shaps goes as head of ITV television
From The Times. Posted February 28 2008, 8.21am
Simon Shaps, the director of television at ITV, the commercial broadcaster, is to be replaced. Mr Shaps is succeeded by Peter Fincham, former controller of BBC1 until last October, in May. His new role has not been announced. (more)

Grade brings in Ex-BBC Fincham to head TV
From The Times. Posted February 28 2008, 8.21am
Peter Fincham, the multimillionaire television executive who had to quit as BBC1 controller in October after a row over a misleading trailer for a programme about the Queen, is to be new head of television for ITV. (more)

Fincham replaces Shaps in ITV shakeup
From Media Guardian. Posted February 28 2008, 8.02am
ITV has unveiled a bold restructure of senior management, hiring former BBC1 controller Peter Fincham to replace Simon Shaps as director of television. By Chris Tryhorn (more)

Cranford up for six BPG awards
From Media Guardian. Posted February 28 2008, 7.11am
BBC1's acclaimed costume drama Cranford has picked up six nominations for this year's Broadcasting Press Guild Awards. By John Plunkett (more)