[ACTV]

The increasing reliance on the same handful of shows (Gogglebox, Bake Off, MAFS, Naked Attraction, Last Leg, 24 Hours in A&E/Police Custody, Four in A Bed, Come Dine with Me and anything with Jimmy Carr in it) absolutely isn't helping, Both BBC channels, ITV1 and Channel 5 still manage to freshen up their 8pm and 9pm slots every few weeks/months whilst retaining some core shows, something Channel 4 does not seem to be able to get a grip of.

Everything on Channel 4 these days feels particularly samey and there really is not enough distinction. Their 8pm and 9pm slots are filled with all of these fly-on-the wall documentaries, travelogues, property and food shows that are practically the same show with different presenters, and are identical in style and tone to other channels’ offerings.

I do think Channel 4 are perhaps relying a little too much on Studio Lambert for programming, they are probably Lambert's biggest customer with Gogglebox, Four in A Bed, Naked Attraction and previously Rise and Fall and The Circle. Had they let ITV take Gogglebox that would have probably meant Rise and Fall would have never came about and C4 would likely be in a slightly better financial position.

I agree Channel 4 does to an extent already have the goods to be able to reinvigorate it's lineup but it is being scheduled in completely the wrong way. Big Boys for example feels wasted at 10pm on Sunday nights and is there really any demand for two hours of Jimmy Carr on Fridays? Programmes like Around the World in 80 Weights and a George Clarke travelogue in the US don't seem like particularly enticing 9pm pullers.

I think it might be a good idea to move some of those types of programmes over to More4 and perhaps try harder to skew Channel 4 to a younger audience - perhaps more emphasis comedy and drama, a bit like what E4 used to be until they launched E4 Extra and focused that channel more on reality TV, whilst still being able to make room for some of the big mainstream pullers.