Just as normal, decent people were enjoying a Saturday morning lie-in to celebrate the end of term, CMCI director Dr Richard Howells was appearing live on Sky Television News to talk about the renaissance of Saturday night TV in the United Kingdom. The item was put together in anticipation of the finals of The X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing, which together with dramas such as Dr Who have seen viewing figures and popular interest rise after years in the ratings doldrums.
Richard explained the combination of family appeal, production quality and novelty value which added to the success of these shows, together with the extra factors of vicarious participation and viewer empowerment in these so-called “reality” TV programmes.