Well apart from adding idents and the change to the promos/break bumpers about half way through their run that C4 package changed very little in it's decade on air. That is probably why it aged so well - generally speaking when a channel begins tinkering around the edges it begins to fall apart.
Linear ratings are respectable but nothing to write home about for a show that has had so much advertising. But if it does get recommissioned on the strength of the the catch-up ratings I guess that will be pretty remarkable. Plus the binge-worthiness of it has led Netflix to snap up the format for international versions.
I'd be highly dubious of that figure, and it is surely marketing speak to make the show look more successful than it may appear. I'm in the target demographic for the show and never watched it (though I did give it a try). It was not a show talked about amongst friends (who hadn't heard of it or didn't want to watch it based on the name/concept) and I never really saw any mention of it online apart from sponsored posts from Channel 4 advertising it. I certainly did not experience any buzz about the show, even from work mates who always discuss the previous evenings television the next day in the office.
It launched with less than 1m viewers despite a GBBO lead-in and was regularly if not constantly beaten by Big Brother. Certainly didn't seem like a success.
I got the impression it was Big Brother plagued with the depressing quirks of social media, who has the most likes is the most popular, etc. Sounded terrible.
