Does football on Saturday night TV work

A.� ITV1's Saturday night line-up has failed to make the impact the station hoped for. The station has admitted that The Premiership had just one more month to prove its worth in the 7pm slot. ITV1 had hoped coverage of the day's football drama would be a winning formula in the constant battle for Saturday night viewers, but figures have been consistently falling since its launch in the summer. The early-evening highlights programme is attracting barely four million. ITV1 says it expects figures to pick up in winter, but also says an assesmment will be made�in mid-November.

�

Q.� What will the station do to attract more viewers

A.� ITV1 is now banking on Frank Skinner, the lad's lad, to lure viewers away from BBC1's Parkinson and rescue a failing Saturday night schedule. Skinner's irreverent approach is designed to attract a younger audience of 16 to 34-year-olds. Frank Skinner secured a three-year multi-million-pound deal by David Liddiment, the head of ITV, in 1999 after negotiations with the BBC failed over cash. In the past he has interviewed Tony Blair and socialite Tara Palmer-Tompkinson.

�

Q.� Can anyone match Parky

A.� The Yorkshireman has interviewed many celebrities, ranging from Lauren Bacall to Mohammed Ali. The present series to mark his 30th anniversary as a chat show host, has attracted nine million viewers. In the past Danny Baker and Jonathan Ross have tried to emulate his style, mixed with anarchic comedy and chat. Gabby Roslin and even Dame Edna Everage have also tried the Saturday night slot and failed.

�

For more film and television questions and answers, click here

�

By Katharine MacColl