Question: When is a consolidated viewing figure lower than an overnight viewing? Answer: When there is a difference of opinion about the length of the programme. This is what happened with Channel 5’s coverage of the Euro 2000 qualifier match between Luxembourg and England. For the duration of the match (7.30 – 9.15pm) the overnight figures say that Channel 5 had an average audience of 5.31 million people and a peak of 6.13 million (see England v Luxembourg Gives C5 Record Audience). This contrasts with the official BARB figure of 4.38 million viewers for the whole programme (7pm to 9.50pm).
Following on the heels of the ‘dumbing down’ of Radio 1 with the Zoe Ball breakfast show and the continued rise of the dreaded docu-soap (Zoo Keepers being the latest), Saturday night saw the return of Noel’s House Party to the BBC’s output. After last year’s inability or refusal to accept that the poor performance of the show had anything to do with him, Noel Edmonds’ revamped early evening light entertainment show bounded onto the schedules looking exactly the same as in previous years. The show only managed to attract 7.89 million viewers compared to 8.08 million for Cilla Black’s much-criticised Moment of Truth; it’ll be interesting to see if the show lasts beyond this series.
With a career as a page three model behind her, Melinda Messenger this week branched out into speaking to the camera as well as posing for it, for the purposes of presenting a television show. Fort Boyard, Channel 5’s first major quiz show, came across a slight rip-off of The Crystal Maze and Treasure Hunt. Featuring appearances by ex-Eastenders star, Leslie Grantham, and the Crow Man from Worzel Gummidge, five unlucky contestants had to do various tasks like searching for clues in a room full of snakes, putting their heads into boxes full of flies and bungee jumping from the tops of high buildings. 1.69 million people tuned in to enjoy the contestants’ misfortune, making it Channel 5’s fourth most watched programme of the week.
Reviewer: Simon Wright
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