Wednesday night offered viewers the chance to enjoy some light-hearted family-friendly homicide in the familiar form of yet another Midsomer Murders (ITV, 8pm) repeat.

Wrapping up the second half of the most recent case, Dr Nikki, her fabulous hair and the ever-diminishing supporting cast of well-spoken men raced against time to stop London’s latest killer.

After last week’s big plot revelations it seems some viewers are struggling with the new direction the Nordic-noir inspired drama was forced to take.

Saturday night saw two old karaoke favourites go head-to-head for prime time glory as BBC One rolled out a refreshed series of The Voice UK, while ITV cobbled together Harry Hill’s Stars in their Eyes.

Thursday night saw the return of BBC One’s sunny murder drama Death in Paradise which, alongside Midsomer Murders, must surely be the nation’s most popular family-friendly, light-hearted show about violent sociopathic homicide.

It’s been twenty long months and fifteen days since ardent fans of ITV’s unexpectedly successful crime drama were promised that ‘Broadchurch will return…’

There was more elderly drama available on BBC One as the amorous union continued to propel Alan and Celia’s adventures in the third series of Last Tango in Halifax (9pm).

BBC One kicked off the New Year in style, securing eight of the day’s top ten spots with a successful mixture, including the return of a potty-mouthed seasonal favourite.

After eight tense and terrifying episodes, last night brought an end to the second series of BBC Two’s dark sexuall thriller, The Fall (9pm), with the possibility of a third run still vaguely up in the air.

November was a relatively strong month for online newsbrands, with just a few reporting declines in average unique daily browsers.