The set where the magic doesn't happen
ITV’s breakfast show Daybreak is continuing to lose viewers as the show’s ratings were recorded below 600,000 for the third successive morning yesterday.
The revamped morning format, which replaced GMTV and enticed presenting dream team Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley to cross the floor from the BBC’s One Show has struggled to compete with its public service competitor from the beginning – but things seem to be going from bad to worse for the show as rumours of a change of personnel and re-re-vamped format continue to circle the media world.
Yesterday’s programme, which was broadcast on ITV1 and ITVHD between 6am and 8.30am received an average audience of 545,000, a 16.4 per cent share of all television viewers at that time.
In comparison, BBC Breakfast attracted 1.408 million pairs of eyes, a 36.1 per cent share of viewers.
On Tuesday Daybreak averaged 544,000 and on Monday the show attracted 592,000 viewers – worrying figures for ITV.
The show began amidst great fanfare on September 6th, described by ITV supremo Peter Fincham as one of the cornerstones of the new ITV schedule.
It’s first episode was viewed by over a million viewers and received mixed reviews, but in less than two months the programme’s ratings have almost halved.
Added to the pain for ITV is the news that viewers seem to prefer stand-ins to the big money signings Bleakley and Chiles. Last week when Kate Garraway and Dan Lobb sat in for the pair, they attracted a larger than usual avaergae audience of 681,000 viewers.
So what’s happened? Have the people fallen out of love with Chritine and Adrian’s unexplainable on-screen chemistry or do people just want something a bit more serious in the morning with their cornfalkes? It’s difficult to fathom.
If it all does fall to pieces and the rumours come true … at least Adrian Chiles has got the football to fall back on … and Christine … well will that X Factor presenting slot become vacant next autumn … we’ll have to wait and see.
I cannot entirely blame Adrian or Christine for the failure that is Daybreak. From day one the format was weak, boring and childish. Meanial stories, something cool – who the hell wants that, Five poofs and a piano – OMG Incidently what age group are they trying to capture?
The empty warehouse oops sorry the studio is so hugh there is no warmth in it. The studio colours are terrible which makes everything feel uninviting and cold. When the camera takes a long shot there is nothing in the studio. Why does Adrian and Christine have to stand at that ridiculous screen to read stories – it’s ok for the weather but not for them. I also cannot take to the newsreader whatever her name is, there is nothing warming about her.
I still cannot understand why Daybreak had to get rid of the wonderful Andrew Castle and Penny Smith. Bring Andrew and Penny back that will surely bring some sparkle into this dull programme. A GMTV fan
The nation awaits with baited breath as the glamorous couple smile and welcome the whole country to their particular style of presenting……Oh dear,Mr Chiles has not turned into George Clooney and share the pain of those with high def television,Christine is on hand to be the thinking mans,i mean the bloke down the pub,i mean ”the girl next door ”,living with a multi millionaire keeps you grounded..At least their salaries ease the knowledge of taking money under the pretence of being quality presenters,but lets be honest,it’s breakfast tv and does not intend to be serious journalism although important issues have to be discussed and that’s the problem,you can’t have gravitas with fluffy…No doubt Ann Widdecombe will be in line after her stint clip clopping on a professional dancers foot…
Old story of presenters full of their own importance. It happened to Jonathan Ross – bad move. It happened to Chris Evans fortunately he saw the light and has come out of it a great presenter and realises his own mistakes.
Adrian Chiles is dreary and moody, and Christine Bleakley is a talentless hanger-on.
ITV need to change things fast – Chiles and Bleakley – See the door…..!
Chiles and Bleakley – why do they have to sit so close. Please pull the camera back slightly so they aren’t continually jostling for position. He’s monotone, she smiles at anything (except when he talks over her which clearly irritates her – understandably). What age is this infantile, shallow programme aimed at? Worse thing to date – interviewing a puppet meer cat. P-l-ease! I loved GMTV – now a BBC1 convert I’m afraid!!
They might have great chemistry with each other, but they just strike me as a bit cold. Half an hour they can maybe get away with, but longer with that, coupled with the continual hammering home of those bloody competitions, and it all seems a bit like corporate hospitality.
The old presenter partnerships at GMTV were never the problem – if anything, ITV got rid of the one thing about the old format that was any good at all!