After a bit of a tumultuous start, the third episode of this year’s The Great Sport Relief Bake Off (BBC One, 8pm) ensured the short-lived show was well and truly back on track as a fresh wave of beautiful celebrities graced our screens all in the name of charity.
This years’ charity spin off, the fifth in total, has seen the usual stream of political figures, soap stars, forgotten popstrels, retired sport stars and random BBC employees enter the white tent of dreams and last night was no exception.
After opening up with Samantha Cameron and a surprisingly low 4.6 million viewers three weeks ago, the second episode jumped up to 6.1 million viewers as Ed Balls embraced his silliness with psychotic attention to detail.
Postponed from last week (there was an essential live broadcast of some game between Peterborough and West Brom) the third round of TV’s nicest reality show saw Geri Spice (taking over the role of Posh after her recent and sudden self-appointment), a person with an actual job, veteran journalist John Simpson, retired footballer Jermaine Jenas and that WAG from low-impact 90s girl group Eternal.
Yesterday’s adventure in savoury tarts, 3D biscuits and self-promotion was hosted by Irish comedian Ed Byrne, who was released especially from a 1990s time capsule for the event and generated more tweets than all of yesterday’s shows.
This week’s instalment saw the audience stabilise at a very healthy 5.9 million viewers and bagged its time slot with a 37% share.
Afterwards, DIY SOS: The Big Build had another rare chance to shine in the 9pm slot, although there wasn’t even any royalty hanging about or anything.
4.3 million viewers tuned in for the latest spell of heart-warming do-goodery, with Nick Knowles and his band of volunteers netting a 20% share.
Over on ITV, the latest two hour helping of Midsomer Murders bagged 4.6 million viewers and a 21% share.
[advert position=”left”]On BBC Two, £100k House: Tricks of the Trade secured 1.5 million viewers and a 7% share while 9pm brought the launch of ambitious new drama One Child.
Starring Harry Potter‘s Katie Leung as an adopted American returning to China to reconnect with her family, the first of three episodes brought in 1.4 million viewers and a 6% share.
ITV’s soaps took the day’s two top spots, with Emmerdale netting 6.2 million viewers and a31% share at 7pm, while Coronation Street (7:30pm) bagged the top spot with 6.8 million viewers and a 32% 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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