TV Overnights: BBC One beats ITV in Tuesday’s dog eat dog battle
Scientifically proven by a team of experts to be simply the worst day of the week, Tuesday received an ITV-administered shot of excitement as the broadcaster chose to fill its hour long prime time slot with slow-motion shots of dogs running and jumping with long jets of saliva flying everywhere on The Secret Life of Dogs (ITV, 9pm).
The Prozac shaped show, narrated by Doc Martin himself, spent most of the hour projecting slowed down glamour shots of doggies looking all moodily into the camera.
There were sexy dogs with knowing looks in their eyes, silly dogs with a million folds of flesh and – just to make you feel bad – an overachieving proud and stoic dog with a Victoria Cross medal. For the terminally cynical there was even a prolonged shot of puppies dreaming.
A knee jerk reactionary piece to Horizon‘s more scientifically worthy The Secret Life of Cats– which went out on BBC Two in June – the show littered educational nuggets throughout, but mainly kept the camera focused on the hypnotic ballet captured at very high frame rates.
While Horizon‘s feline version hit the bullseye (4.9 million viewers for BBC Two on a Thursday), the commercial broadcaster’s effort wasn’t quite as prevalent.
Perhaps it was ITV’s over-reliance on everything Martin Clunes, but only 1.8 million viewers fell for the canine charms. When the sight of dogs using cash machines only manages to capture a prime time share of 8%, you know you’re in trouble.
But in fairness, it’s not easy for ITV to keep up with the inexplicable success that the old dogs of New Tricks (BBC One, 9pm) are enjoying. The third episode of the tenth series brought more cold cases and achy joints as the elderly team of super detectives lost one of their own.
Part of a major cast cull this series, fans will see the UCOS get a little younger whether they like it or not – not that that has affected the shows popularity just yet. 6.9 million viewers tuned in to see long standing Brian Lane fall on his sword, capturing a 31% share and Tuesday’s biggest audience.
BBC One was also doing particularly well an hour previously at 8pm. The latest action in Holby City brought in a dedicated audience of 4.8 million viewers and a 23% share. Meanwhile the final episode of Alan Titchmarsh’s so-awkwardly-scripted-it’s-almost-watchable horticultural show Love Your Garden brought in a respectable 3.2 million viewers.
Over on Channel 4, upcycling tweeness was the name of the game on Kirstie’s Fill Your House for Free (8pm). Kirstie once again showed viewers how easy and inexpensive it is to redecorate using old tat – especially when you have an army of skilled labourers who don’t require money, just Her Domesticated Highness’ mere presence for reimbursement.
Channel 4’s biggest audience of the day, 1.5 million viewers, caught up with the distracting images of brightly coloured things.
A bit earlier BBC One was once again on top with EastEnders (7:30pm). Benefiting from an earlier spot as a result of Coronation Street‘s absence from Tuesday’s schedule, the London soap managed a 33% share.
In total, 6.3 million viewers watched people being all shouty and getting all up in each other’s faces. The Walford drama was the second biggest hit of the day.
Country cousin Emmerdale (ITV, 7pm) was just short of overshadowing its rival, after many triumphant moments over the last few months. 6.2 million viewers (a 34% share) tuned in to see the decayed corpse clamper out of the shallow grave in the glamping site, haunting the village’s residents. Figuratively speaking, unfortunately.
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.