So far behind BBC and Channel 4 it's a speck on the horizon (ITV 1)

Member Name: laukez

Product:	ITV 1
Date:	03/11/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The X Factor, some alright detective shows

Disadvantages: The vast quantity of mindless drivel churned out by this channel

ITV1 really has become a channel filled with dross! I never used to mind this channel but now I find there is very little that is of interest to me. What must be a pretty huge budget is blown on some really sub-standard programmes. I'm not saying I am looking to be intellectually challenged every time I watch T.V. but ITV really does provide only the most empty headed viewing!

First of all, the soaps. I used to think Coronation Street and Emmerdale were watchable chill out telly. The characters were familiar and there were some quite good storylines in the past. No longer. The programmes look amateurish, the storylines are uninteresting and there is little by way of decent comedy or drama to be had in either. The acting is appaling these days - Maxwell Caulfield and his family in Emmerdale are terrible, and Corrie is no better. Every time I watch there are new and increasingly pointless characters. Compared to BBC's Eastenders - well it doesn't compare in my opinion.

After the soaps, the next thing I love to wathc is reality T.V. ITV1 has the X Factor, which for me is the pick of the reality T.V. bunch. ITV has got this one right - it's the only thing the channel shows which is unmissable for me. In replacing Kate Thornton with Dermot O'Leary the channel finally made a worthwhile major change - something it seems reluctant to do. Other than that, I can't stand I'm a Celebrity..., Britain's Got Talent or Dancing On Ice, all of which I find to be a cross between a freak show and very tired formats. Dancing On Ice is a cheap and inferior rip off of Strictly - the contestants are so Z list, and I'm A Celebrity is the same. Less said about britain's got talent the better in my opinion - I really don't get why this show is so popular!

In terms of documentaries, ITV1 is seriously behind the game. I watched the last 2 episodes of their Life on the Breadline series where celebrities live in poverty hit estates for a week. I find the whole concept of this show patronising - Mel B seems to think that the solution for poverty is to buy everyone gym memberships. Really embarassing T.V. Compared to BBC or Channel 4 documentaries ITV doesn't even come close to the likes of Cutting Edge or the outstanding Life series on BBC One.

Daytime telly should be ITV1's trump card, as the channel of mindless viewing. Even here the standards are slipping. I like Jeremy Kyle (so I'm not a total telly snob) but some of what ITV shows during the day is diabolical. One prime example is their 'Britain's Best Dish' series. This show is like a really, really poor man's Masterchef. It aired recently at 5-6pm and really is an embarassment. The standard of critic says it all - Jilly Goolden and an embarassed to be there John Burton Race. Absolute T.V. has beens. Shows like Alan Titchmarsh's chat show - I mean really??! It's so boring I'd rather watch paint dry.

And then there's the sports coverage. My god, it's bad. With ITV once again having Champion's League coverage we are subjected to Clive Tyldesly and David Pleat talking absolute nonsense for yet another season. I can't for the life of me understand why they are still in a job. While BBC and Sky's football coverage is pretty average at least BBC had the sense to sack Ian Wright for spouting his drivel.

In terms of drama, ITV have in my opinion ruined one the of the only things it had going for it in The Bill. I used to love The Bill and have grown up watching it but this new style of filming just makes me feel a little seasick. If I want an American style cop drama I'll watch channel 5. There are some decent detective shows on ITV like the recent Murderland but there is also a large quantity of dross. Doc Martin is tedious and a sad vehicle for someone as talented as Martin Clunes.

I mean, I could go on. There is such a huge amount of drivel on this channel. I hardly watch anything it has to show, preferring BBC and Channel 4 just because most of what it shows is such poor quality. There are some saving graces like The X Factor but for me this channel has spent too long flogging dead horses like Emmerdale and is in need of a radical shake-up to provide relevant and engaging viewing. For too long ITV has cruised, churning out the same old things, and I reckon it's time for an overhaul.

Summary: In need of a massive overhaul