[Scarlett.]

WELCOME to Richard and Judy’s New Position . . . at the BOTTOM of the TV ratings.

The chat stars—who pulled in three million viewers a show in their heyday— managed just TWELVE THOUSAND last week on their UKTV slot.

And their flop on the sofa has put the satellite channel’s bosses in a worse position—because they’re paying the couple £1 MILLION EACH for the series.

That works out at £166.66 for every one of the viewers who bothered to tune in to Richard and Judy’s New Position on Thursday night to watch them chat to actor Ricky Tomlinson.
Dying

“In this industry you live and die by your ratings—and at the moment this show is clearly dying,” said an insider.

Programming experts have blamed the 8pm time slot because it clashes with EastEnders and Coronation Street so it’s being moved to 6pm in January.

Our source said: “They’re up against the soaps, which makes it hard. But even so they’ll be feeling the heat right now.”


He said there was a growing belief the show had flopped because Richard Madeley, 52, and 60-year-old Judy Finnigan were too old.

“Many people think they’re past it,” he added. “And these figures are an embarrassment.”



Even more embarrassing are the kind of programmes now attracting more viewers than the married former This Morning stars.

The Caravan Show on Discovery Turbo pulls more than double their audience as 26,000 tune in to find out what’s new in the world of mobile homes.
Challenge

A total of 14,000 lap up REPEATS of Coach Trip on Sky Real Lives 2—watching bus driver Chris take tourists to Italy. And 15,000 people tune into the thrilling Swiss Railway Adventures on Travel Channel 2 which consists of scenery viewed from a train.

When Richard and Judy launched on UKTV’s Watch channel in October, their first audience was 100,000. Richard said then: “What it boils down to is a new challenge.”

But by the second show viewers had almost HALVED to 53,000 and it’s been going downhill ever since, despite appearances by stars like Helen Mirren, Samuel L Jackson and Josh Harnett.

Last night UKTV controller Matthew Littleford remained upbeat. “The show is full of the Richard and Judy magic. It will take time to bed in.”

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