<div><p><em class="bold">1956</em> Hughie Green launches Opportunity Knocks. The show, which gave Mary Hopkin, Russ Abbot and Freddie Starr their first break, wins audiences of up to 25 million.</p><p><em class="bold">1961</em> The Morecambe & Wise Show starts on ITV. They move to the BBC in 1968, attracting more than 20 million.</p><p><em class="bold">1971</em> Bruce Forsyth starts his first stint as presenter of The Generation Game, the number one game show of the Seventies.</p><p><em class="bold">1975</em> The first series of Jim'll Fix It begins. Often number one in the ratings, the series hits an all-time high of 19 million viewers in 1980.</p><p><em class="bold">1985</em> ITV buys a US format called Love Connection and renames it Blind Date starring Cilla Black. In its heyday, 17 million tune in.</p><p><em class="bold">1991</em> Noel's House Party starts an eight-year run. At its peak, it attracts 15 million.</p><p><em class="bold">2001</em> ITV launches Popstars. The format's success is built on by Pop Idol, which opens the judging to the public, gaining final show ratings of 13.9 million. One of the original judges, Simon Cowell, goes on to create The X Factor</p><p><em class="bold">2004</em> BBC1 cancels Passport to Paradise, with Johnny Vaughan and Denise Van Outen, after disappointing ratings. But it has the surprise hit of the year with Strictly Come Dancing, a glitzier revamp of its old series Come Dancing</p><p><em class="bold">2005</em> Some 9.9 million viewers tune in to see the relaunch of Doctor Who on BBC1. Christopher Ecclestone is joined by Billie Piper in Russell T Davies' new take on the Time Lord. Meanwhile, ITV drops its prime time show Celebrity Wrestling half way through its run as ratings fall to 2.6 million.</p><p><em class="bold">2006</em> An average 7.7 million viewers watch Connie Fisher win How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and earn a place in the West End production of The Sound of Music. The format paves the way for talent shows such as Any Dream Will Do and I'd Do Anything.</p><p><em class="bold">2007</em> The final of Strictly Come Dancing is watched by roughly 11.4 million people. Some 12 million tune in to see Leon Jackson win The X Factor</p><p><em class="bold">2008</em> Britain's Got Talent beats I'd Do Anything in the battle to capture a 20 million television audience.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=33347759&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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