David Attenborough’s Life Story wraps up with a -37% fall
Thursday night brought an end to David Attenborough’s fascinating – and sometimes slightly traumatic – Life Story (BBC One, 9pm), as the final episode in the wild adventure through the animal kingdom decided to avoid the obvious subject of death, instead concluding with the much more cuddly topic of parenthood.
For the final time, TV’s most respected naturalist brought viewers on the last trip around the planet, looking at cute little bonobo monkeys and their parents in the Congo while a herd of bison desperately battled to protect their young from wolves.
Opening with 4.4 million viewers back in mid-October, the documentary’s audience has been steadily eroded over the following weeks, with ITV’s prefabricated jungle not helping matters.
Last night just 2.8 million viewers tuned in for distressing scenes of a Zebra attempting to lead her nervous fledgling foal across a turbulent river, netting a 12% share, a -37% fall on the first episode and the show’s lowest audience yet.
Over on BBC Two, The Fall (9pm) continued to creep out and titillate its dedicated fanbase as the second series of the cat and mouse thriller continued.
The third episode saw Gillian Anderson’s weary detective remain on the hunt for a missing schoolgirl while Jamie Dornan’s seriously unhinged bereavement counsellor continued to groom his new accomplice.
A little over 2 million viewers tuned in for the dark Belfast-set drama, securing a 9% share.
Over on ITV, fans of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (9pm) had no problem watching Kendra Wilkinson go through yet another bushtucker trial, with the Californian party girl becoming this year’s official whipping boy.
After managing to win only four out of a possible forty meals in her last four trials, last night’s Little House on the Scary saw the former geriatric’s plaything muster up a renewed sense of energy, resulting in her first successful trial in days.
8.1 million viewers watched as Kendra suspiciously turned herself from quivering princess to action hero, as she scaled the heights of the jungle and managed to retrieve all ten stars. The questionable transformation pulled in an impressive 35% share.
Over on Channel 4, 24 Hours in A&E (9pm) continued to provide some bloody trauma to living rooms across the nation, with the real life and death scenarios netting 1.2 million and a 5% share.
At the same time, history was given the Channel 5 treatment, with Britain’s Bloodiest Dynasty (9pm) taking an energetic look at the Plantagenets, England and France’s ruling family in the middle ages.
An audience of 694,000 joined presenter Dan Jones in the gory fun, resulting in a 3% share.
At 8pm, Watchdog brought in 3.5 million people to BBC One, while MasterChef: The Professionals secured BBC Two’s biggest audience with 2.7 million and a 12% share.
Over on Channel 4, George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces was watched by 1.4 million viewers, with the Grand Designs on a budget netting a 6% share.
Earlier in the day, unsuspecting soap fans were treated to an entire hour and a half of creamy Emmerdale goodness, with the rural fun kicking off in its usual fashion at 7pm on ITV.
An audience of 5.5 million viewers tuned in for the drama, netting a 29% share. A little later at 8pm, there was another hour of Yorkshire hysterics, pulling in another 5.5 million viewers but a lower share of 24%.
On BBC One, EastEnders (7:30pm) was the day’s second biggest hit as Jay and Ben attempted to get their hands on Lucy Beale’s recently dug-up phone and wallet. 6.4 million viewers watched as Jay went on a clandestine mission to Patrick’s to retrieve the stolen goods, resulting in a 31% share.
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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