TV Overnights: BBC One rules over Tuesday night with a trusty array of drama
Last night brought the penultimate episode of TV’s most barmy and brutal competition since Takeshi’s Castle – yes, it was knitting needles at dawn as The Great British Sewing Bee (BBC Two, 8pm) stormed towards the final hurdle.
As ever, Claudia Winkleman was on hand to squint uncontrollably and make disparaging remarks about herself at random points. Despite this, the remaining contestants were able to focus enough so the competition could go ahead, leading to the usual display of meltdowns and soggy bottoms botched stitches.
It was sewing needles at dawn as only three lucky stitches managed to claw their way through to next week’s explosive finale. The tension-filled weaving sesh netted 2.5 million viewers and a 11% share, resulting in BBC Two biggest success of the day.
The best ITV could manage was to serve up a cold plate of Midsomer Murders (ITV, 8pm) from September of last year. The two hour event once again pulled fans back into the UK’s most perilous county as the latest repeat focused on a group of amorous stargazers.
2.5 million viewers settled down for an evening of murder, betrayal and comeuppance handling, resulting in an 11% share for the channel.
Over on BBC One was Holby City (8pm), one of the corporation’s most stable pillars, holding up it’s share of the foundation. The never ending cycle of hospital theatrics (seriously – it’s only away from our screens for one week all year) attracted 4.7 million viewers.
An audience share of 22% watched as the staff of the most unprofessional hospital in the UK continued to drag their dirty laundry through the disinfected corridors, winning the 8pm slot.
Meanwhile in a scary alternative universe, Channel 4 brought us the gripping final episode of Bedtime Live (8pm), possibly the most ludicrous show ever to air in prime time. Similar to a season finale of 24, viewers watched as distressed parents (who allow the nation into their children’s safe haven, their bedroom) raced against the clocks to get their little cherubs to go unconscious. Because they’re just better that way.
An embarrassingly small audience of 500,000 viewers spent their time watching Professional TV Quack, Tanya Byron watching distressed parents through grimy TV monitors, whispering pandering advice in their ears. The bizarre show brought in a 2% share.
Later at 9pm, the former King of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros/Fred Flintstone was having a pretty bad time of it despite winning a landfill of cash. The penultimate episode of The Syndicate‘s second series focused squarely on Mark Addy’s Alan, a chubby ball of happiness who works as a hospital porter.
Fans of Kay Mellor’s repetitive drama should know by now how things tend to play out on this show and last night was no exception. 5.2 million viewers watched as money’s sinful poison soaked into his soul, turning him back to the drink and sending him on an escalating spending spree that resulted in him purchasing a top of the range wife.
The dependable series has constantly pulled in a solid amount of spectators, with last night’s second to last helping of the unsubtle cautionary tale pulling in an average share of 23% – the biggest audience in the 9pm slot.
Apart from the second half of ITV’s quaint show about the slaughter of innocents, the only other real contender for the 9pm slot was over on Channel 4. Part of the alternative broadcaster’s education remit, Secret of the Shoplifters dished all the dirt on the country’s young go-getters, with one young lady making a comfortable living through her thrifty ventures.
1.9 million viewers caught up with the harrowing documentary, highlighting South Yorkshire’s finest retail police and the horrors they face each day to keep large business’ from losing a few pennies. Not for the faint of heart, the one-off show pulled in an 8% share and resulted in the channel’s biggest hit of the day.
While viewers were spared a trip to Weatherfield, there was still plenty of heightened soapy drama on offer. Emmerdale got the ball rolling at 7pm with a spot of light brain surgery, pulling in 6.2 million viewers and a 32% share.
Bianca Butcher has taken a few weeks off from being EastEnders‘ (BBC One, 7:30pm) whipping girl, leaving room for equally befallen Sharon Watts Mitchell Rickman to step up to the plate.
After her latest wedding collapsed last week, she crawled back to her exes to hide from prying eyes. Last night saw things go from bad to worse as her child (remember him?) decided to run for his life, leaving the horror of Walford behind him. 7.3 million viewers tuned in for the latest action, resulting in Tuesday’s biggest hit across all channels.
For some mad reason Channel 5 put out an hour long special of Neighbours at 10pm. Somehow producers managed to wrangle together the budget of a standard Hollyoaks disaster, as chaos struck Toadfish and Sonya’s wedding.
1.2 million viewers tuned in to see Toadfish’s unusually gaunt mug react in horror as friends and loved ones were trapped in a marquee of death, securing a 7pm share. The explosion didn’t exactly set Channel 5’s rating alight but managed to be the most tweeted about show of the day, if that matters to you.
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.