JO
If Countdown wasn't at 2pm then it could work there as it's quite a low spot in daytime although 3pm wouldn't be bad either although depends on how it would rate compared to their sunshine property programmes.
Right to pause it till they can do it better. I do think a later slot may have benefitted it considering the breakfast shows and This Morning have the subject covered through till lunch, but with no equivalent in the afternoon it may have found more of an audience at 3pm or 4pm.
If Countdown wasn't at 2pm then it could work there as it's quite a low spot in daytime although 3pm wouldn't be bad either although depends on how it would rate compared to their sunshine property programmes.
JO
I’d be inclined to agree but remember this primarily is a political commission, to make a point of being in Leeds, rather than to chase ratings. So that factor alone may save it.
Steph must be dreaming if she thinks it is ever coming back with the sort of figures it has been getting, if it can't get some people watching whilst a vast majority are working from home with the TV on in the background then she never will
I’d be inclined to agree but remember this primarily is a political commission, to make a point of being in Leeds, rather than to chase ratings. So that factor alone may save it.
PF
I just don’t see it catching on regardless of filming location. A live show of people sitting around taking to each other or the camera about news and topical subjects is tiring by the time Steph starts. GMB/Breakfast, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women... there’s a solid 6 hours of similar style programming before you factor in Steph. It’s just not a show format that’s needed, especially for that time of day at least.
FL
I’d be inclined to agree but remember this primarily is a political commission, to make a point of being in Leeds, rather than to chase ratings. So that factor alone may save it.
I agree. It will definitely come back for political reasons, but I think it will look very different when it does.
I've never been a fan of this commission. I like Steph, and think she comes across really well on screen, but this was sold on her name and nothing else. There's never been a planned format, which is obvious from the fact that they were able to launch it early in a completely different setting than was planned. The elevator pitch has always been "Steph from BBC Breakfast talks to people". A show sold on that basis with a "star" name alone will never work. A strong format should always come first.
Steph must be dreaming if she thinks it is ever coming back with the sort of figures it has been getting, if it can't get some people watching whilst a vast majority are working from home with the TV on in the background then she never will
I’d be inclined to agree but remember this primarily is a political commission, to make a point of being in Leeds, rather than to chase ratings. So that factor alone may save it.
I agree. It will definitely come back for political reasons, but I think it will look very different when it does.
I've never been a fan of this commission. I like Steph, and think she comes across really well on screen, but this was sold on her name and nothing else. There's never been a planned format, which is obvious from the fact that they were able to launch it early in a completely different setting than was planned. The elevator pitch has always been "Steph from BBC Breakfast talks to people". A show sold on that basis with a "star" name alone will never work. A strong format should always come first.
UB
I think the issue is that it's in the wrong slot. Being stuck in I've watched more daytime TV than I care to admit and after 2pm is where there's a gap in programming. Putting it up against the institution that is This Morning/Loose Women is putting it up against your target audiences' main watch. It's going to take some to bring the audience over to Steph.
I don't think the lockdon version of the show was a good idea. A fudged launch is going to make people remember it as 'that show from Steph's kitchen' so it's like having to relaunch when they actually launch properly. If anything they should be getting their best viewing figures now when your potential audience is massively increased so it doesn't bode well for the proper show.
I don't think the lockdon version of the show was a good idea. A fudged launch is going to make people remember it as 'that show from Steph's kitchen' so it's like having to relaunch when they actually launch properly. If anything they should be getting their best viewing figures now when your potential audience is massively increased so it doesn't bode well for the proper show.
BR
I think it was a worthy thing to launch it in lockdown - maybe it should have been under different branding (or the main show relaunched under different branding) but they'll have learnt from it and when they do eventually launch from a studio it should be better for it. I don't think enough people watched it for people to remember it as "that show from Steph's kitchen", so it is kind of irrelevant.
Perhaps one of it's biggest issues, but on the other hand something is should be commended on, is that it didn't have anything that went viral (not the best phrase ATM I know), so didn't really get exposed to an audience that hadn't found it. However in the days when it feels like GMB and This Morning do something daily intended for the online audience I kind of respect them for not playing that game.
Perhaps one of it's biggest issues, but on the other hand something is should be commended on, is that it didn't have anything that went viral (not the best phrase ATM I know), so didn't really get exposed to an audience that hadn't found it. However in the days when it feels like GMB and This Morning do something daily intended for the online audience I kind of respect them for not playing that game.
JL
Surprised the BBC are trying to spin it so positively. Ok they mention the low ratings, but the article makes it sound like it was her decision https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52469520
MA
Ian Katz mentions the neighbours being annoyed, which I saw in the press a couple of weeks ago. Don't know how true it is. Local authorities take a dim view of business activity being based in domestic housing. Normally they don't know or care (for instance someone sat in the kichen with no more than a laptop and phone) but if there are comings and goings and noise etc, then they get interested. It might have been a contributry factor
Surprised the BBC are trying to spin it so positively. Ok they mention the low ratings, but the article makes it sound like it was her decision https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52469520
Ian Katz mentions the neighbours being annoyed, which I saw in the press a couple of weeks ago. Don't know how true it is. Local authorities take a dim view of business activity being based in domestic housing. Normally they don't know or care (for instance someone sat in the kichen with no more than a laptop and phone) but if there are comings and goings and noise etc, then they get interested. It might have been a contributry factor