Media News
Strictly moving to an earlier time slot
Thursday 22 October 2009
From October 31, the BBC One ballroom contest will clash with its ITV rival for just 45 minutes, The Sun reports.
The weekly episode is expected to kick off at 6.50pm and end at 8.45pm, while 'The X Factor' will begin at 8pm as usual.
The news comes days after reports that 'Strictly's ratings were causing concern at the corporation. On Tuesday, an insider was quoted as saying that the programme's battle with 'The X Factor' was not doing it "any good".
'Strictly' has so far lost out in each of its weekly clashes with Simon Cowell's singing competition. The most recent round saw 'The X Factor' attracting 3 million more viewers than the BBC's dance offering.
A BBC spokesman denied suggestions that the programme's new slot has anything to do with 'The X Factor'. The representative said that schedulers are merely making way for a new show by impressionist Jon Culshaw.
Click here for Terms of use
|
Top 10 Most Read
Must Watch TV
-
- The Late Late Show
You can be guaranteed that Ryan Tubridy will host a stellar line-up of high-profile guests, current social issues will get an airing and he'll introduce the very best in all-round entertainment, plus a fabulous prize for someone at home! What more could you ask for from your Friday night viewing?
-
- Who Knows Ireland Best?
Derek Mooney hosts as two teams compete to see who is most in touch and who has their finger on the pulse. Points are awarded for being in agreement with the majority of a survey of 1,000 people across the country. This week, three agricultural consultants (Tom Dawson, Tipperary; Julie Roche, Cork; and Mike Brady, Cork) go head-to-head with three auctioneers (Nora Meaney, Sharon O'Leary and Maura Fenlon, all from Carlow) to see who is more in tune with the nation.
-
- The Big C
As the rest of the neighbourhood gets ready for Hallowe'en, Cathy prepares to start a clinical trial she hopes will cure her cancer. Yet just when Cathy needs him, Paul has to deal with a series of problems at work. And as they are arriving at the hospital, Cathy's search for a parking spot ends with her harmlessly hitting another patient with her car. Meanwhile, as Adam grows increasingly agitated by his mom's illness, Sean's Hallowe'en plans lead him to suspect that Marlene's ghost is haunting his house.
-
- Hustle
Albert decides to pay a nostalgic visit to an old haunt, only to find it's been pulled down by ruthless property tycoon and former '80s game show host, Dale Ridley (played by Mark Williams) in this week's episode. Posing as international businessmen, the team lure Dale into a scam, convincing him to purchase the television studios that fired him in his showbiz heyday on their behalf. Will the temptation to get revenge on his old employers be enough to trick the greedy entrepreneur?
-
- Safari Vet School
Thirty-two vet students are at one of the toughest vet schools in the world in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Under the guiding hand of Chief Vet, Dr Will Fowlds, the students tackle everything from lions to rhinos to giraffes and elephants. In tonight's episode, TV vet Steve Leonard who presents the show is pushed to his limits when he's left in charge of 16 vet students and a hall of 100 barking dogs while Cambridge student Nadia gets a second chance at being a team leader.