Although we tend to think mainstream factual programming - documentaries - might be squeezed by reality and digital channels, there was a lot of it around in primetime last week. I'm thinking about the likes of Horizon: How Mad Are You on Tuesday, BBC2, or Lady Randy:Churchills Mother on Tuesday and Rich Kid Poor Kid on Thursday, both on Channel 4, while Five had Dangerous Adventures for Boys on Wednesday and Danger Men:Red Arrows on Thursday.
How did they fare? Lady Randy had 1.5 million, Horizon 1.8 million, Rich Kid Poor Kid 2.6 million and Dangerous Adventures 940,000. Is it a cause for concern that only one, Rich Kid Poor Kid, rated over 2.5 million? Or should we simply be relieved that there's still so much variety at 9pm? With budgets under threat, factual offers a lower budget alternative to high cost drama, are likely to see even more in future. And if so - will there be pressure on subjects and formats to push ratings higher?
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