New Drama A Success For ITV1

ITV1’s new 9pm drama, The Time Of Your Life, about a woman trapped in a coma for 18 years, picked up a peak audience of 6.4 million adult viewers last night.

Perhaps mindful of the success enjoyed by the John Simm time-travel-coma bonanza that was Life On Mars, the ITV show spent some of its time focusing on the 1980s, and its gripping mix of thrills and nostalgia bagged an average audience of 6.2 million adults across its hour long running time.

ITV1’s recent success in the 9pm slot comes after ITV executive chairman Michael Grade made it clear that the channel’s top priority is to regain its ground in 9pm drama (see ITV1’s Top Priority Is 9pm Drama).

Grade said: “”We want the next Life On Mars, the next Spooks and, yes, we’re still in the market for the next Morse, the next Foyle’s War or the next Doc Martin.”

The Time Of Your Life beat BBC One’s mighty old-cops show New Tricks, although it was a repeat. Last night’s episode had a peak of 5.6 million adults (a 26.5% share of viewing).

On Channel 4, also at 9pm, was Cutting Edge: The Dangerous School For Boys. The show followed Ferdi McDermott, who had set up an ultra-traditional English boarding school in the middle of rural France.

A peak of 1.1 million adult viewers watched the teachers impart the ways of Morris dancing, chivalry and Gregorian chanting to the kiddies under their tutelage.

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, ITV2 and Sky One.

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk Channel 4: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com