One week after Aidan Turner’s Poldark (9pm) sent hearts aflutter the romantic reboot continued to pull in a strong audience last night as a result of some gratuitous Georgian skinny dipping.

Just one week since its début, Jimmy McGovern’s latest drama suffered a severe -30% drop in viewers, as Banished (BBC Two, 9pm) really began to live up to its name.

Single-handedly helping perpetuate the image of an eternally grim North, last night saw DCI Banks (9pm) return to ITV, although recently it looks like the put-upon detective has a good reason to frown.

Long-running culinary cook-off, MasterChef (9pm) returned to BBC One’s screens last night after the schedule mainstay deprived the TV viewing nation of John Torode and Gregg Wallace’s combined beauty for an agonising eight months.

Monday night saw ITV’s latest novelty crime drama reach the half way point of its very short run, with the second episode of its heavily Sherlock-influenced historical mystery taking quite a knock, week on week.

Last night saw BBC One destroy the competition with a double helping of quality period drama, drawing viewers in with a final visit to the frenzied nursing convent, followed by a romantic romp through 18th-century Cornwall.

Last night BBC Two welcomed screenwriter Jimmy McGovern back to the TV fold with daring new historical romp Banished (9pm), a gritty drama soaked in the writer’s trademark passion for unsubtle social commentary.

Wednesday night saw BBC One mark its midweek prime time line-up with a night of light entertainment, with the ‘grand’ finale of this year’s The Great Comic Relief Bake Off (8pm) seeing a national treasure named star baker.

Last night TV viewers were offered the enviable choice between preachy finger-wagging investigations, opportunistic docs and some casual drug use on Channel 4.

Monday night saw ITV attempt to launch a brand new dramatic franchise by plundering the depths of crime and history to bring viewers Arthur & George (9pm).