TV Viewing Round-up: February 2011

ITV1’s popular Dancing on Ice proved a popular choice once again, coming number one in the top programme rankings for February with a high of 9.28 million average viewers.

The Sunday night celebrity show also won the top spot in January (with a higher 10.2 million average).

However, Channel 4’s Big Fat Gypsy Wedding series jumped up to take second place in the top 20 programmes chart (excluding soaps) with 8.8 million average viewers. The controversial fly-on-the-wall documentary series, which was a ratings hit for the channel (its most-watched factual programme ever), came under fire from critics for sensationalising the life of a traveller for television.

There was a significant social media response to the programme, particularly via Twitter (see – #bigfatgypsywedding) with some positive tweets but some negative, which critics singled out. However, the programme provided bumper ratings for C4 every week – and ended on a high of 8.8 million viewers.

ITV1’s Midsomer Murders and Wild At Heart claimed the third and fourth place in the month, with 8.1 million and 8 million viewers respectively.

Overall, ITV1 featured in the list nine times – The Skate Off (Dancing on Ice), new drama Marchlands, UEFA Champions League Live and Ant & Dec’s Push the Button all made it in to the top ranking programmes during the month.

BBC One featured in the list 10 times. Let’s Dance for Comic Relief came in fifth place with 7.98 million viewers, while South Riding and Silent Witness claimed seventh and eighth position.

BBC Two’s Top Gear also made it in to the list with 6.42 million viewers.

Top Programmes (excluding soaps)

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