BBC’s Ordinary Lies finale sees Jo Joyner shine with 4.8m
Last night saw BBC One signal the turn of former EastEnders Live line-fumbler Jo Joyner’s time to shine in the sixth part of interwoven ensemble drama Ordinary Lies (9pm), as the tale of everyday working folk with a habit for dispensing porkies came to an end.
After shedding some light on her colleague’s dubious personal lives over the past five weeks (and featuring some notable turns from Mackenzie Crook, Sally Lindsay and Michelle Keegan) yesterday’s grand finale saw the PA to the car showroom owner face some harsh truths.
The first episode brought in 4.7 million viewers a few weeks back as Jason Manford pretended his wife had died because he was late for work. The following week’s stories of drug smuggling, sordid affairs and gambling addictions saw the audience rise to 5.1 million, but last week fell slightly to 4.4 million.
Last night’s final slice of working-class-people-wot-fib action secured the series’ second biggest audience behind Michelle Keegan’s narcotic swallowing fun in Ibiza.
4.8 million viewers tuned in last night to see Joyner’s impressive performance as Beth, who was dealing with the fact her missing husband showed up just as she was moving forward with her life (and her boss).
Once again, the Warrington-set drama won the 9pm slot with a 23% share, almost enough times to secure a second series for the slowly flourishing drama.
Over on BBC Two, Back in Time for Dinner‘s (9pm) very special family saw their time travelling days come to an end as they returned to a horrifically altered timeline were Giles Coren was a respected and successful television presenter.
After bouncing about the recent decades, gawping at microwave meals and frozen foods, last night saw the Robshaws served possible future food trends. Bumped all the way up from 8pm to the grand heights of the 9pm slot for its exhilarating finale (not really), the educational/sneerfest show netted 1.7 million viewers and an 8% share.
On Channel 4, there was another eruption of birthing madness on One Born Every Minute (9pm) which secured 1.3 million viewers and a 6% share.
Over on Channel 5, a sensitively sensationally compiled look at a real-life murder spree in the mid-seventies made up the latest crude episode of Killer Psychopaths (9pm). Featuring some insightful gems from Professor David Wilson, the latest pulpy piece netted 664,000 viewers and a 3% share.
ITV’s night was handed over to the still-not-Adrian-Chiles presenter skills of Mark Pougatch, for the latest Live UEFA Champions League game at 8:30pm.
An average audience of 2.4 million viewers tuned in to see Barcelona face off against Paris Saint-Germain, with the fact there are no English clubs left in the league helping explain the 12% share.
Meanwhile BBC One’s Holby City (8pm) continued to secure a very boring and loyal 4.4 million viewers and a 22% share while professional chancer and serial channel hopper returned to BBC Two for Alex Polizzi: Chefs on Trial (8pm) which was watched by 1.4 million viewers and a 7% share.
Earlier on, there was a noticeable difference between the day’s first and second biggest shows as Emmerdale brought in 4.9 million viewers and a 29% share at 7pm on ITV.
Doing much better was another cheerful Tuesday trip to Walford as EastEnders (BBC One, 7:30pm) secured the day’s top spot. 6.2 million viewers tuned in to witness the double funeral fun of Stan Carter and Jim Branning’s send-offs, resulting in a 34% 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. Overnight data supplied by TRP are based on 15 minute slot averages. This may differ from tape checked figures, which are based on a programme’s actual start and end time.
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