TV Overnights: Luther’s broody return nets 5m viewers for BBC One
It may be the height of the dreaded summer scheduling drought, but that didn’t stop the BBC from treating viewers to the return of at least one highly anticipated programme last night.
Luther (BBC One, 9pm) the moody, stoic protector of women, returned for a third series and it wasn’t long before the female population of London began dropping like flies. Luckily, Idris Elba’s not at all clichéd character had been practising his loose cannonball persona for two series already.
The police detective – whose main unique selling point is the ability to appear as if he’s staring off into the distance constantly – returned as his usual maverick self, breaking all the rules and what not. A healthy 5 million viewers watched Luther strut his stuff through grimy locales, resulting in a 22% share.
Speaking of highly anticipated shows – if you like your prime time thrills a little more sedate then BBC Two was the place for you. If commuting to work most mornings doesn’t last long enough then you could relive the delight in The Route Masters: Running London’s Roads (9pm).
The third episode in the series meant that the electrifying odyssey was only halfway through its journey with last night’s instalment mostly featuring cranky old drivers complaining about modern passengers and looking back to the good old days in nostalgia.
1.8 million viewers boarded the fun express, resulting in an 8% share.
At the same time on Channel 4, there was a chance to pay one final visit to the self-assured little cherubs of Child Genius (9pm). The fourth and last episode saw the joyless progenies take part in a fun debating contest, with some feeling the pressure that they’re not smart enough.
Who doesn’t love a precocious child suffering a rare moment of doubt?
The rewarding pay-off pulled in an audience of 1.3 million viewers and a 6% audience share.
Last Tuesday’s big 9pm winner didn’t have the goods to combat the return of BBC’s brooding detective, although viewers only dipped slightly week on week. The second and final part of Secrets from the Workhouse (ITV) gave us more celebrities in a state of horror in an unofficial ‘homage’ to Who Do You Think You Are?
The original Hannibal Lecter, actor Brian Cox, continued his sad and sorry journey through the archives, peeling back the wallpaper of time to unearth more harrowing details.
Joining him on the rollercoaster ride of emotion was Felicity Kendal, who was also saddened to learn that her ancestors weren’t rich and fabulous. 2.8 million viewers caught up with the Victorian outrage (down from last week’s 3.1 million), resulting in a 12% share.
At the same time on Channel 4, Gok Wan came up with new ways to get women in their knickers in his new show. The head of the fabulous mafia returned with an arsenal of reinvented tactics, all to get his poor guests to get their kit off on national TV. This time, though, it was live.
Gok Live: Stripping for Summer (8pm) brought in 1.2 million viewers for Channel 4, resulting in a 6% share.
That simply couldn’t compete with the BBC One’s popular medical drama, though. At the same time Holby City lorded over the 8pm slot like a benign dictator, confident in its modest but never dwindling popularity. The latest rounds through the corridors of the UK’s most theatrical hospital brought in 4.4 million viewers and a 20% share.
An hour earlier, Emmerdale (ITV, 7pm) brought top quality dramatic posing to tea time audiences. Taking plot stylings from American soaps, the rural drama continued to focus on the slow motion implosion of the Maceys’ marriage. 6.1 million viewers tuned in for the latest fiery exchanges, reaching a 31% share.
Afterwards over on BBC One, EastEnders (8pm) proved to be just that little bit more popular than its Yorkshire rival. The London soap rewarded viewers last night with a genuine moment of pay-off as Ian Beale was on the receiving end of a hard slap.
Obviously a stress relief tactic for the dedicated and long-suffering fan base, Tuesday’s episode saw the once hirsute entrepreneur rub Jean Slater up the wrong way. 6.7 million viewers (a 32% share) helped EastEnders become the most watched show of the day.
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.