TV Overnights: Walford’s youth theatre problem wrangles in 7.4m for BBC One
The BBC’s descent into ‘tough’ urban programming continued with Tuesday evening bringing even more suffering for the Butcher family, as down-trodden matriarch Bianca decided to shop her son Liam to the fuzz.
While EastEnders‘ (BBC One, 7:30pm) latest delinquent was adding more stress to his mother’s already wretched life, the show managed to wrangle in the day’s biggest audience.
Last night saw Liam completing a number of age old Krypton Factor-type challenges to gain the trust of the stage school’s street gang elders. Confusingly, for tough guys they were all pretty touchy-feely.
In a post-apocalyptic urban setting, the yuff-in-training sailed through his first two tasks with aplomb, winning gold in smashing a car window and silver in knicking a flagon of White Lighting.
7.4 million watched as Liam’s final challenge was laid out and, just like little Bilbo Baggins facing off against the evil Smaug, it seemed an impossible quest. Especially when Liam’s Bilbo was paired off against Shirley’s unhinged dragon.
A 32% audience share watched as the tearaway member of the Butcher clan had a logic breakdown when he ‘disguised’ himself by simply pulling his hood up, engaging the enemy with his face in full view. Amazingly enough, Inspector Shirley managed to identify her assailant through the mysterious art of knowing him. Better luck next time mate.
Earlier, the soap fun over on Emmerdale (ITV, 7pm) was slightly less convoluted but just as silly. Yesterday’s visit to the Dales saw lord of the manor Declan Macey freak out slightly as rumours of his indiscretions spread like a Weatherfield wildfire.
6.5 million viewers watched as Declan realised he was in the wrong village if he wanted to live a quiet and secluded country life, pulling in a 30% share and the fourth biggest audience of the day.
Airing straight afterwards was England’s latest World Cup Group H match as they faced off against Montenegro all the way from sunny Podgorica City Stadium. An average audience of 6.6 million viewers tuned into the Live International Football, watching the entire coverage and securing a 27% share.
The audience peaked in the closing quarter of the game, with 8.1 million viewers turning in to see Damjanovic equalise in the 77th minute, with the game easily securing the 9pm slot.
The second series of The Syndicate continued on BBC One as the new bunch of lucky lottery winners struggled with their success. Last night it was the turn of Jimmy Mistry’s annoying character Tom to take centre stage and realise, that just maybe, money doesn’t buy happiness. Especially if you’re a loud mouth muppet, it seems.
Viewers of the first series of Kay Mellor’s drama knew exactly what to expect with this week’s entry netting 4.8 million viewers, down from the opening episode’s audience of 5.4 million. A 19% share tuned in to learn that the grass is always greener, in a fairly unsubtle manner.
Over on E4 at 9:30 was the debut of a new sparkly sitcom The Mindy Project, starring The Office‘s Mindy Kaling. Having jumped ship for the final series to set up her own show, it appeared that Mindy had brought the majority of her former colleagues along for the ride. The journey into Mindy’s self-obsessed glossy world attracted 329,000 viewers and a 1% share.
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.