Christmas Day numbers show Eastenders ⇑ and Downton Abbey ⇓

Downton Abbey may very well be the darling of the 2011 television season on both sides of the pond, but the critically-acclaimed, viewer mega-hit from ITV couldn’t quite muster the audience on Christmas Day, finishing in fourth place against the perennial Christmas ratings winners, Eastenders (BBC), Coronation Street (ITV) and Doctor Who (BBC). Some immediately […]

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A few Boxing Day bits and bobs

Doing a bit of Sherlock work on and around the Internets, post-Downton Abbey Christmas special, post-Doctor Who Christmas genius and post-Eastenders Christmas, one realizes that time does not stop for Boxing Day. Telly fans in the UK have now set their sights on the 1 January premiere of the Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss brilliant second […]

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BBC1 vs. ITV1 in Christmas Smackdown 2011

Will 2011 be the year that ITV unseats the 600 pound giant in the room, BBC One, for Christmas Day ratings dominance? Cue Michael Buffer….Let’s get ready to rumble! The infamous long-awaited Christmas Day schedules for both BBC One and ITV1 have been set, sort of, (as of today, anyway) and war has officially been […]

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Happy 75th, BBC! You don't look a day over 74.

Just a bit late to the party, but we finally got there, nevertheless. 75 years ago this past week, Wednesday, 2 November, to be exact, the BBC launched the world’s first regular television service in 1936. Although only a lucky few in the south of England could receive the signal, it was still considered the […]

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A BBC retro-Christmas 2010

To amplify the point that the Christmas/Boxing Day television schedule war between the BBC and ITV is something akin to Wrestlemania XXVI, one has to look no further than this years schedule plans for both outlets. Even though the BBC is more Hulk Hogan to ITV’s Vince McMahon, both continue to throw the kitchen sink […]

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Christmas comes early for Doctor Who

The Christmas holidays may be 6 months away, but not for the Traveling Time Lord. Filming begins next week in Wales for the 2010 Christmas special to be broadcast in the UK with the U.S. not far behind. Rumors are starting to surface with respect to not only the Christmas special, but for series 6 also. […]

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FOW gather to re-create AYBS and share memories

A lot of goings on recently at Grace Brothers Department Store. Friends and colleagues of the late Wendy Richard gathered this past week to share behind-the-scenes stories, fond memories and a little bit of laughter. While a majority of the new “cast” came from Wendy’s days on Eastenders, Nicholas Smith returned in his role as Mr. […]

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