TV Viewing Summary W/E 15/02/98
One of the most surprising things in this week’s chart is that the Brit Awards failed to reach the top thirty. Despite the massive hype involved in the build up, the show was watched by a rather small 7 million. I guess it’s now become one of those events where the tabloid coverage supersedes the actual broadcast of the show, thus we all knew that they failed to catch on film Mr Prescott being drenched by the ‘anarchic’ guitarist from Chumbawumba.
Three points to be made. Firstly, if “The Wumba” are anarchists what were they doing not only being present at the Brit awards, but actually performing as a part of it? Secondly, they should choose a more purposeful target: JP is the best deputy we’ve had for decades. Last of all they should be aware that whilst they may well criticise Mr Prescott’s politics, the limited drumming skills he showed whilst playing on Phil Collins’ kit recently on Parkinson displayed more complexity than Chumbawumba’s entire musical output.
Drama remains much the same, with Heartbeat leading the way (15.39 million), followed by the usual suspects: Casualty (13.12 million), London’s Burning (10.91 million), Peak Practice (10.13 million) and the faultless Jonathan Creek (8.99 million). Channel 4 produced the only new drama of the week in Mosley, which attracted 3.99 million viewers. This puts it second in the Channel 4 chart. E.R. continues its slump, down to just 3.12 million viewers this week.
Eastenders continues to fall down the ratings scale as well. This week its overall average viewing figure (13.87 million) shows its closest rival these days to be Emmerdale, which scores an average audience of 12.55 million. Coronation Street is not only way out in front with an average of 16.87 million, but also continues its run of holding on to the top four places in the BBC/ITV chart. Impressive stuff, but hardly surprising.
Now I didn’t really think the plot line in Eastenders could become any weaker, but Monday’s episode proved to be the pits of the soap world. The main focus of the episode being the ‘power struggle’ between Peggy and Pat. This is not to do with who’s the “baddest Momma” in the Square, but over who gets to play Queen Victoria in the local amateur dramatics production. For a start both characters display far more than ‘amateur’ dramatics in their usual interaction with each other, or for that matter anyone who happens to disagree with them. I mean Peggy Mitchell even looks like the greatest drama queen of them all – Lily Savage. No, the obvious choice for Queen Victoria (in the absence of the granite-face hard looks of Michelle Fowler) is Susan Rose (apart from the fact that she’s now bed ridden), who perhaps best ‘performs’ the ‘Albert Square misery death stare’.
As for Coronation Street, well, what can you say. It’s just spot on yet again, with the perfect amount of comedy, tragedy and dramatic climax to be the deserved winner for yet another week. Obviously the Des/Sam thing is really building up now, but the best twists and turns lie in the developing relationship between Roy and Hayley (the one with more than meets the eye). This is going to be a real corker, but will probably involve poor Roy’s heart being shattered in the process, but then again he can always take refuge in his scrambled eggs…….
Reviewer: Jim Sparkes
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