'Tracy Beaker Returns' bows out with high ratings for CBBC

'Tracy Beaker Returns' bows out with high ratings for CBBC

CBBC's final ever Tracy Beaker Returns pulled in a bumper audience yesterday, early overnight data reveals.

Starring Dani Harmer, the BAFTA-winning series concluded with its highest ever audience of 564k (2.3%) at 6pm, making it the third most-watched multichannel show of the day.

Only The Big Bang Theory (583k/3.1%) on E4 (+1: 193k/0.9%) and ITV3's Midsomer Murders (829k/4.1%) performed better.

Sport Relief dominated the terrestrial ratings with an average of 5.8m (25.8%) from 7pm, down on the 7.8m who tuned in over the same time period in 2010.

Featuring Miranda Hart and the cast of Outnumbered, the charity telethon gave BBC Two its best audience of the night (3.47m/17.5%) when it switched over at 10pm.

As well as ITV's soaps, Benidorm was severely dented by BBC One, plummeting to 4.94m (21.8%) in the 9pm hour. However, a greater-than-usual 435k (2.4%) caught the sitcom's latest episode on ITV1 +1.

Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers held steady for Channel 5 with 1.32m (5.7%) at 8pm (+1: 145k/0.6%), then The Mentalist took 1.33m (5.8%) at 9pm (+1: 115k/0.6%).

Come Dine with Me was Channel 4's best-rated primetime programme with 1.14m (4.9%) in the 8pm hour, adding a further 173k (0.8%) on timeshift.

Overall, BBC One claimed a rare Friday win with a share of 24.9% in primetime, beating ITV1's 21.9% (+1: 1%). BBC Two retained its third position with 7.4%, ahead of Channel 5's 4.3% (+1: 0.3%), and Channel 4's 4.1% (+1: 0.7%).

Will AOL Sell Its “Beachfront” Patents?

Will AOL Sell Its “Beachfront” Patents?

The company’s thinking seriously about it — so much so that it hired Evercore Partners to explore a sale of more than 800 patents and consider other strategic options, Bloomberg reports citing “three people with knowledge of the situation.”

They also tell the news service that private equity firms Providence Equity Partners, TPG Capital and Silver Lake are trying to interest AOL in a plan to go private. The news about the patents follows CEO Tim Armstrong’s comment at an investor conference two weeks ago that AOL’s portfolio is like “beachfront property in East Hampton.”

He added that “when we were spinning out of Time Warner this was a huge negotiation.” The patents involve a wide range of Internet-based activities in areas including e-commerce, travel navigation, and search-related advertising. But last month Starboard Value, which owns 5.2% of AOL, said in a letter to the board that the properties have been “unrecognized and underutilized.” The portfolio “could produce in excess of $1 billion of licensing income if appropriately harvested and monetized,” the investor group said. AOL shares have been steadily recovering from a steep drop in August when it reported that its investments in new ventures, including local news service Patch, contributed to quarterly earnings that were far below analyst expectations. AOL’s -7.4% over the last 12 months, but it’s +22.5% since the beginning of 2012.

Sport Relief raises over £50 million as night closes

Sport Relief raises over £50 million as night closes

Over £50 million has been raised for this year's Sport Relief so far.

Last night's (March 23) telethon closed with a grand total of £50,447,197 of donated money, smashing the last total of £29,323,818.

David Walliams's 'Big Swim' and John Bishop's 'Hell' marathon have attracted increased awareness, with Bishop's triumph raising £3.5m alone for the charity appeal this year.

Fearne Cotton said after the announcement: "What an amazing, stunning total. We always hope to beat the previous amount, but to do it so spectacularly is just incredible.

"Huge thanks to the British public who, once again, have shown enormous generosity to help those in need."

Friday night's BBC One show featured special mini-episodes of Miranda and Outnumbered, as well as a Benidorm/Britain's Got Talent crossover starring Simon Cowell.

Whoawhoawewa! Fake Kazakhstan Anthem From ‘Borat’ Played At Sports Competition

Whoawhoawewa! Fake Kazakhstan Anthem From ‘Borat’ Played At Sports Competition

After the Kim Jong-il ashes-spilling stint at the Oscars, Sacha Baron Cohen is getting more free publicity for his upcoming comedy The Dictator. The spoof Kazakh anthem from Cohen’s 2006 hit Borat instead of the real one played during a medal ceremony at the Arab Shooting Championships in Kuwait.

A Kazakhstan official called the incident “a scandal”, demanding an investigation. After the flap was discovered, the organizers apologized and the awards ceremony was repeated with the right anthem, but the the clip, showing baffled winner Maria Dmitrienko listening to lyrics like: “Kazakhstan, greatest country in the world/All other countries are run by little girls….Kazakhstan, prostitutes cleanest in the region, except of course for Turkmenistan’s/Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, you very nice place, from plains of tarashenk to northern fence of jewtown/Come grasp the mighty phenis of our leader, from juction with testes to tip of its face” has gone viral.

As a bonus, the incident took place in the Middle East which, of course, is the setting of The Dictator.

Simon Cowell to lead five-strong 'X Factor' panel, says Sinitta

Simon Cowell to lead five-strong 'X Factor' panel, says Sinitta

Simon Cowell will definitely return to the UK's X Factor this summer, according to close friend Sinitta.

The 'So Macho' singer, who starred in last year's I'm a Celebrity, claimed that Cowell is hoping his presence will help the show overtake Strictly Come Dancing in the ratings.

"Simon plans to be back, along with last year's judges Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos, Kelly Rowland and Louis Walsh," she told Closer.

Referring to last year's ratings defeats to BBC rival Strictly Come Dancing, Sinitta added: "He likes winning, so he's set on beating Strictly in the ratings."

However, the 43-year-old believes that the Syco boss will not commit to the show in the long term "because he's so busy".

Cowell recently revealed that he is thinking of replacing the X Factor format with something "new" in 2013.

The music mogul had previously outlined his desire to renew the contracts of the 2011 judging panel.

'Doctor Who' Amy, Rory final episode to be filmed in New York

'Doctor Who' Amy, Rory final episode to be filmed in New York

The final Doctor Who episode featuring Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill will be filmed in New York.

The shooting location was confirmed at the official Doctor Who convention in Cardiff by executive producer Caroline Skinner.

The fifth episode of the seventh series will be the last to feature the characters of Amy Pond (Gillan) and Rory Williams (Darvill).

It will also mark the return of the Weeping Angels, with showrunner Stephen Moffat teasing: "Not everybody gets out alive - and I mean it this time!"

Jenna-Louise Coleman was unveiled as the new Doctor Who companion earlier this week, with her debut scheduled for Christmas.

ITV desperate for more 'Harry Hill's TV Burp', says insider

ITV desperate for more 'Harry Hill's TV Burp', says insider

ITV has still not given up home of persuading Harry Hill to continue his TV Burp series, an insider claims.

Fans who watched the live recording for tonight's (March 24) episode have claimed it will definitely be the show's final edition.

However, according to The Mirror, the commercial broadcaster plans "many more discussions" with the comic over the next month.

Tonight, Hill will host a "huge" finale for the award-winning clip show, which is widely expected to come to an end after 11 years.

The final episode will feature cameos from ex-EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison, who played TV Burp icon Heather Trott, and Big Brother star Brian Belo.

An ITV source claimed: "Harry has been a hugely popular part of the ITV schedule for many years, and the management would undoubtedly prefer him to stay here.

"There will be many more discussions with Harry over the coming weeks, and we are hopeful a deal can yet be reached."

The 47-year-old is apparently working on a new ITV sports panel game with Alistair McGowan.

Meanwhile, last month a report alleged that Hill is on the verge of signing a £2 million deal with Channel 4 to front two major projects.