Sigourney pops up on Doc Martin and bags 6m for ITV
For the umpteenth time in its current run, Monday night saw regional grumpy-fish-out-of-water show Doc Martin (ITV) steal away the 9pm slot from its competitors, although this time the irritable medical practitioner had a little help from a friend.
It was business as usual for much of last night’s trip to the ‘delightful’ fictional seaside town of Portwenn – Mrs. Doc Martin still reviled her difficult husband, a minor character had to struggle through a weightless B story and a new ‘kooky’ arrival ruffled a few local Cornish feathers.
That was until screen legend Sigourney Weaver only wandered out onto the set, confusing the horde of long-time viewers with the unprecedented surprise.
The fleeting but highly amusing appearance saw ole Sig pop up as an American tourist in need of some glaucoma-related questions (as thrilling as the terminally cosy show gets) for the good doctor and even managed to get a few digs in.
Not that the seventh series (in 11 years) needed any help in beating its Monday night rivals, but Weaver’s long-leaked appearance can only have helped matters.
The current slate of small-town-healing-adventures opened up at the start of September with just 5.6 million viewers (a series on series fall of -2 million) but the audience remained solid over the next six weeks, repeatedly wining its time slot.
Yesterday’s visit from the Alien exterminator secured 6 million viewers for ITV, resulting in a 30% share for the commercial broadcaster.
For something completely different, Channel 4 offered up the second instalment of its veiny-necked macho-shouting show, SAS: Who Dares Wins at the same time.
After dispatching 10 hopefuls last week the team of ex-special forces superstars attempted to whittle down the 20 remaining men through another set of horrendous physical and mental challenges.
The opening chapter in Channel 4’s ultimate man competition secured 1.7 million viewers last week as the various men living alone together tried to out man each other through running and shouting, with last night’s instalment falling to 1.4 million.
In total a 7% share tuned in to Channel 4 at 9pm last night to see the competitors isolated and asked to weed out the weak.
Over on BBC One, the latest Traffic Cops (9pm) offered up some dashboard-mounted high-octane footage and brought in 2.3 million viewers and an 11% share.
At the same time, Channel 5 was back stirring the welfare-shaped pot of outrage with On Benefits: The Millionaire Thief, the charming tale of a former shoplifter currently on the dole. 1.1 million viewers and a 5% share joined in on the fun.
On BBC Two, The Last Dukes explored an archaic hereditary caste system and those hanging on to it for dear life. 1.3 million viewers watched a small town South African named Bruce randomly inherited a title and a private army, resulting in a 6% share.
[advert position=”left”]The Walking Dead, meanwhile, was once again destroying any hope that long-suffering fans have for some kind of random ‘light’ episode. Last night’s instalment, fresh from the States, brutally slayed another major character, just for the hell of it, and was watched by 658,000 viewers (a 3% share) and topped the Twitter TV chart.
Real-world problems reared their heads earlier on, with BBC One airing Britain’s Mental Health Crisis at 8:30pm to secure 2.1 million viewers and a 10% share.
At 8pm Channel 4 Dispatches‘ latest investigation, How to Stop Your Nuisance Calls, was watched by 1.8 million viewers and an 8% share.
As is usual with a Monday, teatime dramas won the day’s top spot in a frothy explosion of soapy glory. Emmerdale at 7pm on ITV picked up 6.3 million viewers and a 32% share while Phil Mitchell’s dubious fate on EastEnders (BBC One, 8pm) secured 6.1 million viewers and a 28% share.
A double helping of Coronation Street (ITV) won the top two spots, with the 7:30pm trip to Weatherfield netting 7.1 million viewers and a 34% share, while the 8:30pm episode secured 6.6 million viewers and 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. 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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