Broadchurch ends difficult run only down -8% on series one
After eight weeks of meandering and drumming up some intrigue, Monday night saw Broadchurch‘s (ITV, 9pm) heavily criticised second series finally come to an end.
For writer Chris Chibnall, the endeavour was an uphill struggle from the off, faced with bettering the phenomenally popular first series’ whodunit while being forced to pick up all the pieces from the original dramatic fallout of the murderer’s reveal.
The series came under criticism for replacing the captivating and thrilling paranoia of Danny Latimer’s murder investigation with a significantly less gripping case involving CD Hardy (David Tennant) staring pensively off into the distance while simultaneously navel gazing about an old, really annoying case.
Couple that with slightly more-gripping murder trial of Joe Millar and the second series of 2013’s breakout hit soon struggled after a strong opening audience of 7.3 million viewers.
It wasn’t to last however, with the following episodes losing ground week on week and averaging out at around a little under 5 million viewers, eventually receiving regular beatings from BBC One’s eighteen year old drama, Silent Witness.
Despite this, the grand finale did see a huge resurgence in popularity, presumably spurred on by the convergence of the loyal live audience and the more casual catch-up fans, joining forces to be the first to witness the conclusion.
While the second visit to Dorset’s saddest little town still performed relatively well, the series was delivered on a wave of hype and landed under such heavy scrutiny that any divergence from the experience fans knew and loved would have guaranteed mass disappointment.
Last night an audience share of 33% tuned in to see if Joe Miller would get away with murder, improving slightly on the opening episode eight weeks ago. In total 7.6 million viewers (-8% series on series) watched as Hardy and Miller finally wrapped up all that bloody Sandbrook business and dealt with the shocking conclusion of the trial.
Whether the series continued to capture viewers’ attention or just irritate the masses with the non-stop crying, there was no denying the show got people talking on Twitter. Yesterday’s verdict generated an impressive 77,791 tweets, making it Monday’s most talked about show.
The inevitable third series – confirmed today – will no doubt have fewer burdens on its shoulders, with the freedom to shed all the back story and focus on a fresh new case.
Elsewhere at 9pm, a repeat of New Tricks secured 2.7 million viewers (an 11% share) for BBC One while A Cook Abroad brought in 1.5 million to BBC Two.
Channel 4 delved head-first into the troubled health service in NHS: Two Billion Pound a Week and Counting which was only watched by 815,000 viewers and a 4% share.
But why would viewers spend their Monday night educating themselves on the dangers of an ailing health system that could affect the lives of all those around them, when they can spend an hour gawping at the impoverished and less well heeled instead?
At the same time on Channel 5 was the seventh episode of Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole‘s second series. 1.8 million viewers tuned in for a special Scottish edition, with scenes of people scoffing food on sofas attracting an 8% share.
Earlier in the day Emmerdale was watched by 6.6 million viewers on ITV. The exciting episode, in which someone got locked in a barn, netted a 33% share.
Afterwards a double helping of Coronation Street (ITV) brought in 7.7 million viewers at 7:30pm and 7.6 million viewers at 8:30pm.
But it was the soap of the moment and that other murder case on EastEnders (BBC One, 8pm) that bagged Monday’s top spot.
Apart from the mind boggling production logistics that saw all the actors film the episode months ago despite only knowing the big story reveal a few days before Thursday’s episode, it was business as usual in Albert Square.
8.4 million viewers watched as the Beales decided to make a frantic exit from the square in order to get a well-deserved break. A 37% share watched as Peter Beale reacted a little less calmly to the big reveal.
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 and key multi-channel stations. Overnight data supplied by TRP are based on 15 minute slot averages. This may differ from tape checked figures, which are based on a programme’s actual start and end time.
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