TV Overnights: Coronation Street’s surrogacy drama brings 8.5m to ITV1
Last night ITV1 and BBC One squared up against each other, each dispatching new drama to the 9pm slot, in order to win the coveted audience share.
ITV1 treated us to the first of a three part drama Leaving; the tale of a dull woman conducting a dull affair with a dull boy half her age. In comparison, the ‘lifeless’ marriage she was trying to escape from was simply thrilling. Julie is a married mother of two who spends her life organising other people’s weddings, while ignoring her own. 3.7 million viewers tuned in to see her risk everything for the thrill of it all, securing a 15% share.
Over on BBC One Amanda Redman and her old-school mates continued to show the kids of today that you don’t need computers, igizmos and what-nots to solve a bit of crime. According to New Tricks, you just need Dennis Waterman and Alun Armstrong by your side.
The actors-turned-proficient-scriptwriters were dealing with a frozen lady in a lake who may not have killed herself. Series nine of the crusty sleuthing continued its very successful streak, with 7 million people (a 30% share) watching the third episode (up slightly from last week).
For the second day in a row there was a double treat of Coronation Street on offer, as Izzy Armstrong dealt with the difficult issue of getting her little sister, Katy, pregnant. On her 18th birthday. As is dictated by the great Tony Warren, no social occasion should go without an argument or some kind of awkward family announcement.
The first episode secured Monday’s biggest audience with 8.5 million viewers (an impressive 39% share) tuning in at 7:30pm, as Gary and Izzy realised their dreams of having a surrogate family may never come true. The second part at 8:30pm saw Deirdre unenthusiastically serve up her stuffed marrow to Tracey’s new toyboy Ryan, netting 8 million viewers and resulting in a 33% share.
Kat Moon’s double life with the phantom menace continued apace last night. After feeling super guilty, Kat threw away the key to her secret love nest. Only for Jean to innocently return them. Then Alfie found Kat’s new saucy lingerie meant for her lover and set up a romantic night in. Kat then cancelled secret lover. Forever this time.
Only to change her mind five minutes later, naturally. Seriously, you wouldn’t get this much messing about in a toddler’s playground. Despite the tedious plot of EastEnders (BBC One, 8pm), Kat’s glass box of emotion snared 7.4 million viewers, resulting in a 32% share.
BBC One enjoyed their last taste of exclusive Olympic coverage last night as the nation’s heroes were carted through the streets of London for our gawking pleasure. 3 million viewers watched highlights of the Athlete’s Parade (8:30pm), capturing a 13% audience share.
The next logical step after One Born Every Minute and 24 Hours in A&E arrived on Channel 4 last night. Taking the basic tone and execution of these shows, 999: What’s Your Emergency? (9pm) captures the process from the second a call comes in and allows the cameras to escape the hospital ward corridors.
The documentary, which coincides with the 75th anniversary of the emergency services, followed a crew around Blackpool, who had to deal with people off their heads on drugs and drunken naked squaddies. This is probably exactly what officials had in mind when the world’s first emergency service was launched here in 1937. 2 million viewers (a share of 8.5%) tuned in for the first of ten episodes, securing Channel 4’s biggest audience of the day.
The final of the men’s singles in the US Open Tennis kicked off at 8pm on Sky Sports 1. Great Britain’s great hope Andy Murray faced off against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in Queens, New York for his 237th attempt at a grand slam title. An average audience of 876,000 viewers watched the entire coverage with a Monday night peak of 1.4 million viewers. An audience share of 4.7% watched as Murray battled his way through five gruelling hours to finally lift the trophy.
Overnight data is available each morning in mediatel.co.uk’s TV Database, with all BARB registered subscribers able to view reports for terrestrial networks and key multi-channel stations.