BBC Programming Thread

[Brekkie]

Maybe irrelevant with the iPlayer first approach nowadays but seems odd to schedule the second series of Noughts + Crosses at 10.40pm on BBC1 rather than 9pm, though as I'm watching it now perhaps that proves the point. 
   
Perhaps it is the 50 minute run time but they've aired two or three other dramas short of the hour over the last year or two and backfilled with a bit of filler.    Or just schedule it on Saturdays - this would actually be a natural replacement for Killing Eve.

On the flipside though some rare original content after the news.

[Ash101]

Agree - I thought the scheduling for this one was a little bit strange.

I don't think BBC One is flush with new content that they can really afford to be placing a drama like this in any slot other than 9pm? I see there are no open weekday slots right now, but leaving it a few weeks until The Split is done on a Monday for example? IIRC the first series didn't rate that well, but if that's the justification for this slot then why bother making a second series?

Alternatively, why not air it first on BBC Three with a late One repeat? Three needs all the promo/shows it can get.

Lots of 'could have' ideas because yeah, I genuinely don't believe they should be wasting a good drama in such a late slot.

[Brekkie]

It's pretty decent too. What is odd is originally the first series was commissioned as 8 episodes to cover the first book, then it was cut to 6 so they opted not to cover the full book, but then they obviously got an extra 4 eps as a second series which now does basically cover the first book, which gives an ending that doesn't really demand a follow up.

I'm sure the first series was a BBC3 on BBC1 show too so BBC3 may have made sense, though I imagine 10.40 on BBC1 rates better.

[tellyblues]

Clearly the BBC saw more promise in another of their challenge based shows, Freeze The Fear.

[XIII]

Agree - I thought the scheduling for this one was a little bit strange.

I don't think BBC One is flush with new content that they can really afford to be placing a drama like this in any slot other than 9pm? I see there are no open weekday slots right now, but leaving it a few weeks until The Split is done on a Monday for example? IIRC the first series didn't rate that well, but if that's the justification for this slot then why bother making a second series?

Alternatively, why not air it first on BBC Three with a late One repeat? Three needs all the promo/shows it can get.

Lots of 'could have' ideas because yeah, I genuinely don't believe they should be wasting a good drama in such a late slot.

It's pretty decent too.  What is odd is originally the first series was commissioned as 8 episodes to cover the first book, then it was cut to 6 so they opted not to cover the full book, but then they obviously got an extra 4 eps as a second series which now does basically cover the first book, which gives an ending that doesn't really demand a follow up.

I'm sure the first series was a BBC3 on BBC1 show too so BBC3 may have made sense, though I imagine 10.40 on BBC1 rates better.

Noughts and Crosses would have died a death at 9pm, it didn't do particularly on BBC One first time round but attract a younger and more diverse audience which likely swung the renewal

I think it's good the BBC is commissioning dramas like this and Small Axe. There are many who think BBC drama should just be safe and/or cosy.

[Ash101]

But if it attracts a young and diverse audience, isn't that enough to justify a few weeks at 9pm?

[PATV Scunthorpe]

Not exactly the same as what has been suggested, but they are showing Noughts + Crosses on BBC Three on Wednesday nights at 9pm

[RhysJR]

The Cleaner with Greg Davies has been renewed for a second series

https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2022/04/2...he-cleaner

[Brekkie]

But if it attracts a young and diverse audience, isn't that enough to justify a few weeks at 9pm?

Exactly - it's four weeks and serves an audience not served by the likes of The Split and Gentleman Jack.


P.S.  Masterchef finishes up next week and has managed to have a different schedule in each of the seven weeks it has aired, which given the limited number of slots it can go in somewhat feels like more of an achievement than keeping it in a consistent slot throughout.   Of course if they'd just held it vack a couple of weeks to allow Great British Menu to finish up on BBC2 and also for Holby to vacate the Tuesday slot it probably would have been easier to schedule.

Fair play though it still rates really well - consistently in the top 3 most watched programmes each night it airs.

[tellyblues]

Repeats of The Weakest Link to begin next week (Sat) on BBC1. Still no sign of I Can See Your Voice but have seen talk of it being coupled with Strictly, which would be pathetic to go nearly all year without any Saturday night event TV (apart from Eurovision) and then have two talent/performance shows arrive at once.

[Ash101]

It’s crazy. Weakest Link basically replacing The Hit List in running repeats of the same episodes in the same timeslot within about 6 months of the original airing.

I don’t think BBC One Saturday Nights can be in that much of a state!

[Andrew]

It’s not even 6 months, didn’t The Weakest Link start at Christmas?

[Ash101]

Yes! It’s the Strictly special which originally aired Sat 18 Dec 2021 at 18:25. It’s on next Saturday at 18:40.

Last Saturday, The Hit List aired an episode at 18:15 which was first on Sat 27 Nov 2021 at 18:10.

[Brekkie]

The Hit List gets treated terribly - new episodes never seem to get a full series and whilst it works well as an early evening show that can be dropped as and when it just never seems to get a run significant enough to be considered anything other than filler.

[Ash101]

Same fate as The Wall really, that swapped between the normal series and Celeb ones, plus weeks break. It’s the way BBC One seems to be scheduled on a Saturday outside of SCD.