After teasing viewers about who exactly is Lucy Beale’s mystery man, last night viewers found themselves reeling in horror as it was revealed Walford’s most desirable slab of hunk was at it again.

Thankfully, the BBC’s in-house referee, David Dimbleby, was on hand to keep the cerebral blows above the belt as Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and UKIP leader Nigel Farage faced off in The European Union: In or Out? (7pm).

Despite the exquisitely detailed sets, the beautiful cinematography and the refined script, a dirt-cheap reality show over on BBC’s digital youth channel did slightly better at capturing the attention of viewers.

The Widower (9pm) has achieved quite a feat in its three short weeks – not only did the drama spring from nowhere, easily securing the prime time slot, but it also increased its audience each week.

An audience of 4 million viewers watched as Peter Capaldi’s Cardinal Richelieu turned the pantomime theatrics all the way up, resulting in an 18% share and failing to fend off Endeavour.

The UK’s online population has seen a steady, if minute, decline over the last few months, according to data released by online measurement company Nielsen.

Not only were viewers treated to the usual double helping of Emmerdale on ITV but fans of downtrodden ‘everyday’ East End folk were also presented with two cheery episodes revolving around the funeral of a heroin addict.

Last night saw Brooks and Hawkins uncover the body of a dead policeman a car at the bottom of the Thames that was somehow connected to the Brixton riots – so someone’s doing a bang-up job at localisation, then.

Last night The Great British Sewing Bee (BBC Two) defied its own limited expectations as it was propelled from its usual safe and cosy post-teatime 8pm slot, all the way up to the dizzying heights of prime time.

Monday night saw recently-cancelled Silk’s (BBC One, 9pm) once-healthy audience continue to slowly erode as the legal drama struggled to keep up with ITV’s latest drama offering.