TV Overnights: Silent Witness & EastEnders secures a grim Thursday for BBC One
Last night’s prime time schedule couldn’t shake off the stench of dampness and death, with each programme littered with little reminders of our impending doom. Thank God it’s Friday, then.
At least BBC One effort made death look somewhat attractive as unlikely forensic genius Dr Nikki Alexander perfected her frosty version of Blue Steel, slapped on the mascara and pulled out her giant magnifying glass.
The latest episode of Silent Witness (BBC One, 9pm) saw Nikki and her team of himbos investigate the violent expiration of a pub landlady. Silly old Jack and Professor Leo thought the culprit was her husband but they would get it wrong, with all their testosterone and what not.
5.8 million viewers watched as Dr Nikki switched on her lady scanner, bringing thought and consideration to the proceedings. After 16 series it’s fair to say the show doesn’t gravitate usually toward routine domestic incidents, so Nikki jumped to the conclusion that this was the work of a serial killer – a serial killer with a personal grudge against the team forensic team. Probably.
The first in a two part story pulled in 24% of the available audience, securing the biggest share for the 9pm slot. Over on ITV, a national treasure was also staring death in the face although Sir Trevor’s subjects were still alive. Just.
The second part of Inside Death Row with Trevor McDonald (ITV, 9pm) continued the morbid interviews with inmates in Indiana State Prison, featuring a cacophony of colourful characters who would be best fitted to the confines of Batman’s Arykham Asylum than an actual real place.
4.2 million viewers watched as Sir Trevor sat and listened to rapists, child killers and other ghoulish apparitions. Perhaps if he pouted a bit more he could have contended with BBC’s slick offering but as it was the broadcasting legend attracted an 18% share, with viewers down 7% week on week.
While the BBC may have attracted the most viewers, Channel 5 topped them in the morose factor. The penultimate episode of Celebrity Big Brother (9pm) was enough to make anyone welcome death with open arms, happy to be rid of a culture where some monstrosity called a Speidi is not only allowed to freely roam these lands but is more celebrated than the more worthy members of society.
Although, there is a train of thought that the show isn’t meant to be taken that seriously at all. 1.9 million viewers enjoyed the second to last helping of the housebound fun (well, not if you’re the creature known as Rylan), securing Channel 5’s biggest audience of the day and a 8% share.
Both BBC Channel’s saw moderate success in the 8pm slot as the latest drama from Waterloo Road (8pm) netted an audience of 3.4 million and a 14% share. At the same time, BBC Two brought us the fourth and final edition of The Great Comic Relief Bake Off (BBC Two) as alleged funnyman Ed Byrne and muppet/human hybrid Claudia Winkleman entered the baking tent of tyranny. They were joined by the show’s usual token roles – a Radio 4 presenter and an Olympic hero.
Even the buoyant parade of culinary disasters couldn’t lighten the mood. The hit BBC Two show fell at the final hurdle – after seeing an increase in viewers throughout the week, audiences shrank back down to match Monday’s opening episode. 3.6 million viewers watched as World at One presenter walked away with the winner apron, netting a 15% share.
The soaps claimed victory earlier on in the day as ITV and BBC One brought their dependable never ending serials out to play.
Two episodes of Emmerdale at 7pm and 8pm proved to be the only points in which ITV snatched away the highest audience share from the BBC all evening. 7.2 million viewers watched as the pressure on Jai was becoming unbearable (is there something in the water supply) pulling in a 32% share. An hour later, 6.6 million viewers (a 27% share) returned to see the businessman decide to take a break from the hectic rural pace.
Over on BBC One at 7:30pm, EastEnders arrived to brighten up the viewing public’s day. There is simply nothing more thrilling than coming home from work and sitting down to watch Dot Cotton in a financial struggle.
You know things are fairly grim when the highlight of the 85 year old’s day is running back into the arms of Mr Papadopoulos and getting her job back in the laundrette. 8.3 million viewers tuned in for the festivities, providing the biggest audience of the day with a 36% share. Happy weekend, everybody.
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.