TV Overnights: combined might of Coronation Street and Long Lost Family secures Monday night for ITV
Monday night saw Long Lost Family‘s (ITV, 9pm) penultimate episode up the stakes by devoting an entire episode to one person’s search for her mother, so you just know the precious tears were in plentiful supply.
The unholy union of Surprise, Surprise and recent genealogy ‘odysseys’ gave us the usual signposted emotional beats along the way – shocking surprises, great disappointment and ultimately some kind of redemption.
Kind of like Who Do You Think You Are? but limited to the recent time period and the great unwashed, the gem of Monday night’s schedule was littered with more shameless attempts at emotional manipulation, resulting in the perfect recipe for a hit show.
5.1 million viewers watched as Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell displayed the programme’s trademark expressions – a complete balance of serious and concerned yet somehow keeping a twinkle in their eye, just so you’ll come back after the break.
The reunion show brought in the biggest audience of the 9pm slot by far, resulting in a 24% share.
To combat ITV’s popular winge fest, BBC One did what they always do in a no-win situation – offer up a repeat of a light and breezy detective show that was barely tolerable the first time around.
The episode of Death in Paradise (9pm), first aired in January this year, saw Ben Miller bumble around an exotic locale where pandering locals behaved like irritating stereotypes in order to make the detective feel at ease.
2.9 million viewers caught up with the rerun of another relaxing blue skied murder, translating to a 13% share.
At the same time on Channel 4, Undercover Boss saw yet another godly CEO get on his hands and knees and spend an hour rolling around in the dirt with the great unwashed. Without the cameras around this would simply be a mental breakdown – not prime time telly.
1.7 million viewers watched as the waste management boss came to the realisation that people actually matter, taking in a 8% share.
BBC Two offered up something slightly more highbrow in the hospitable form of Mary Beard as she once again trundled around in the dusty vaults, in a noble effort to teach night-time audiences a thing or two. Caligula with Mary Beard (9pm) saw the classicist take time out from receiving hateful messages on Twitter to unearth the truth about the orgy-loving Roman emperor. 1.9 million viewers went along for the tour, securing 9% a share.
Meanwhile, Channel 5 took things down several notches with Botched Up Bodies (9pm) which, refreshingly, focused on male procedures that went horribly wrong. Droopy moob implants, dodgy noses and a bit of belly blubber made these victims of unskilled doctors basically look like most other blokes.
789,000 tuned in for a bit of a snigger, bagging a 4% share for the channel.
As it was the beginning of a new week, the UK’s top three soaps were all out in play with a double dosage of Weatherfield mayhem taking the day’s top two spots. The arrival of the more British weather ensured viewers had grown strong again after the recent sunny drought.
Coronation Street‘s (ITV) latest grab for the summer audiences – the racism controversy – continued to play out last night as Paul instigated a quick smack down with Lloyd outside the Rovers.
The first episode, in which the fatigued fireman punched the mouthy cabbie, attracted an audience of 7.9 million viewers and a 39% share – with the aftermath at 8:30pm falling to 7.7 million and a 35% share.
Earlier at 7pm, Emmerdale (ITV) focused on the repercussions of Gennie’s messy death and was watched by 6.7 million and a 36% share.
Even Walford benefited from the return of the rain as the audience jumped back up to 6.5 million viewers after struggling for a few weeks, witnessing former teenage prostitute Whitney make her private life that little bit more complicated by dumping Tyler and wearing the face off Joey (who are different characters apparently).
The latest drama from the East End of London brought BBC One’s biggest hit of the day, resulting in a 31% 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.