It takes talent to switch on viewers

摘要

My job is to try to fill the Tuesday-to-Thursday 8-9pm slot and some 9pm slots. It's a big gig and a bit scary. Numerically it works out at 180-plus hours a year at a budget of around £140,000 per hour. Of course, every slot is competitive now but these are particularly tough slots because you're not up against current affairs or religion but programmes such as The Bill and Holby City. I'm looking for shows that are distinctive and have broad popular appeal. The programmes have got to be entertaining, quality shows, and contain a strong informational element so they are a genuine alternative to the drama on BBC1 and ITV1. In the past, the purely observational programmes have done less well for us than the information-led shows. For example, we tried No Going Back at 8pm; damn fine programmes but they didn't work in that slot.