Celebrity gushing on Pride of Britain Awards nets 4m for ITV
Thursday night saw ITV host another extravagant evening of uncomfortable celebrity gushing as the broadcaster once again rolled Carol Vorderman out of storage for a fun packed night of feigned empathy and opportunistic compassion in The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards 2015 (8pm).
Joined by Prince Charles and a vast collection of ‘famous faces’ (basically the entire collection of second-rate ITV-associated celebrities – mainly consisting of everyone involved in The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent) as the beautiful people interacted with real life norms who overcame mammoth obstacles.
In fairness, beneath the red carpet smiles, unscrupulous self-promotion and cross-media brand synergy there were plenty of real-life heroes given their time to shine (as well as a massive novelty trophy).
An average audience of 4 million viewers tuned in for the two hour event to see Simon, Cheryl and the karaoke show’s most current profitable conception, Little Mix, also get their fair share of exposure, resulting in the biggest audience in its time slot with a 20% share.
Tellingly, over on BBC One the latest Gregg Wallace-fronted Eat Well for Less? (8pm) – the very definition of non-essential TV – gave the awards show a run for its money. 3.9 million viewers and a 20% share tuned in to have as much fun as is possible when watching a show about the weekly supermarket shop.
Afterwards, Countryfile‘s Anita Rani delved into India’s tragic past and had a bit of a cry in the latest edition of Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC One, 9pm). The show, which is mainly about making BBC employees (usually presenters) break down while waving past genealogical catastrophes in their faces, secured 3.7 million viewers and an 18% share.
Over on Channel 4, George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces was watched by 1.4 million viewers (a 7% share) at 8pm while the latest slice of manufactured ‘excitement’ on adult chasing show on Hunted fell to 1.1 million viewers and a 5% share.
[advert position=”left”]There was something very strange going on over on Channel 5 last night. In the place of seeing angry drug-abusing welfare-dependent lost souls arguing there were two factual shows which aimed to entertain and inform.
Going all BBC 4 for a little bit, 8pm brought Building The London Underground and was watched by 718,000 viewers and a 4% share while the genteel stylings of Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys secured 729,000 and a 4% share at 9pm.
BBC Two’s dedicated hour of comedy continued at 9pm with East End 70s throwback Cradle to Grave netting 1.4 million viewers and a 7% share while the progressive and placid Boy Meets Girl was watched by 882,000 viewers and a 4% share.
Earlier in the day, and for the second time this week, an hour-long edition of Emmerdale (ITV, 7pm) beat BBC One’s EastEnders (7:30pm).
5.6 million viewers tuned into see the latest village drama on ITV, resulting in a 29% share while just 4.4 million viewers watched as Lucy’s killer was finally named in public, bringing a 22% share to BBC One.
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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