Saturday 27th October 2007 BBC2 ventured into territory normally inhabited by Channel 4, with the start of a new 10-part Reality format, Coal House, at 5.55pm. Boldly going where Frontier House had gone before, three families give up the comforts of 21st century life to experience first-hand the privations of life as it would have been for Welsh miners in 1927. An audience of 0.7m (3.5%) watched the families struggle to make ends meet, as the harsh reality of their existence started to become clear.

Friday 26th October 2007 BBC1 filled the 9.30pm slot vacated by Not Going Out with a new series of Armstrong and Miller. Ten years after the comedy duo first had their own show, their latest sketch show, produced by Hat Trick, performed well. Benefiting from the strong lead-in provided by Have I Got News For You, Armstrong and Miller was watched by 4.4m, attracting a 20.1% share.

Tuesday 23rd October 2007 Channel 4 looked at the issue of childhood literacy in Last Chance Kids at 9pm, a three-part documentary series showing as part of its Lost for Words season. The Diverse production follows the pupils and staff of Monteagle Primary School in Dagenham, where the head-teacher has pledged to eradicate illiteracy (nationally, one in five children leave primary school without being able to read properly). Last Chance Kids averaged 1.4m (6.2%) between 9-10pm, giving a TI™ score of 65.

Monday 22nd October 2007 ITV2 has given us the Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and now BBC4 has stepped into the red light district with an adaptation of the infamous Georgian novel Fanny Hill from Sally Head Productions (the company behind Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith). It’s dramatised by Andrew Davies and the cast includes Alison Steadman (Fat Friends) and former Miss Moneypenny Samantha Bond, although the lead role is played by newcomer Rebecca Night. Fanny Hill will be shown in two parts, with the opening episode luring a very impressive 1.1m (5.3%) to BBC4 in the 9 – 10pm slot. This gave BBC4 a convincing lead over its multichannel rivals, and makes Fanny Hill the channel’s highest-rating programme of the year so far by some margin.

For a more detailed summary of the week’s television, please visit http://www.attentional.com/bristolmediablog.php