Submitted by Sacha Deshmukh on 08-10-2010

PRs will debate forever at what point a random list becomes a pattern, and at what point a pattern becomes a trend.  But I would say that based on a highly unscientific observation of the thirty-somethings of north London, ITV bosses can feel some comfort that at least a pattern, if not the fully fledged torrent of a trend is emerging.  For the first time that I can remember, I’ve heard friends talking about programmes that they have been watching on ITV 1.

And I don’t mean the guilty pleasure of gossiping over X-Factor (long eclipsed in the real “did you see” chat stakes by Glee anyway, however strong Cowell and Co’s ratings remain), nor do I mean a repeat of the “It’s actually quite good” conversation that the Corrie-stalwarts have long tried to foist on others in the pub.  I mean the return of the fully fledged, not-afraid-to-admit conversation that you’re watching evening dramas (OK, I admit not including Law & Order UK) on ITV 1.  And recommending them too.

It’s like being welcomed home into friendly open arms after a while away.  A bit like my memory of coming home from uni in the holidays.  Sitting on the train sad to be leaving the liveliness of the student bar (read, the allure of FX and the HBO box set) but then genuinely happy when you got back in the house and had your mum cook you your favourite meal (read a good old ITV crime drama, or my new addiction to the Sunday show that isn’t, but should be, called Gosford Park the series).

If my completely unrepresentative sample group is in fact at all representative, Messieurs Crozier and Norman may be heading towards being seen as saviours after all.  Or maybe I just come from a group that’s just reaching a certain age, and I would have waxed lyrical about Heartbeat, if only I had been a few years older.

Scary thought...