Downton Abbey’s trip to London net 7.9m for series finale
9pm last night brought the eighth and final episode of Downton Abbey‘s (ITV) fifth series which saw the Crawleys up sticks and head for the smoky and hedonistic metropolis of London.
An audience share of 34% watched as the nation’s favourite aristocratic overlords had to battle through many social engagements in the run-up to Lady Rose’s marriage, including yet another super awkward dinner party (most people would simply stop inviting people over by now).
7.9 million viewers watched as Lady Rose gathered all her wealthy relatives in a registry office (how very modern and forward thinking!) with the prim slice of upper-class escapism proving slightly more popular with the nation’s ladies, with women making up 66% of all those watching.
A whole day before hand, the BBC offered up some good old-fashioned sport before Saturday evening’s schedule got completely taken over by blinding sequinned salsa moves and ITV’s calculating karaoke soap opera.
Spread across both channels, BBC One kicked things off at 2pm as Wales faced off against Australia in the Live International Rugby Union match at the Millennium Stadium. An audience of 1.9 million viewers tuned in to see the antipodean visitors beat the Welsh team for the tenth consecutive time, netting a 16% share.
Not doing quite as well was the Scotland v Argentina match a little later on BBC Two at 5pm. 1.2 million viewers (7% share) watched as Scotland trashed the away team in a 41-31 victory, live from Edinburgh, with both games bringing in big audiences for their timeslots.
Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One) was the first shiny prime time light entertainment show out of the trap at 6:30pm, perhaps helping it on its way to secure the weekend’s biggest audience.
A whopping audience of 9.4 million viewers tuned in to see that bloke from Blue, the sleazy chancer off EastEnders and some random BBC employees rounded up in the canteen, dance their way into the nation’s hearts – bringing in an impressive share of 43% and easily securing the weekend’s biggest audience.
Straight afterwards on ITV, viewers of The X Factor were still reeling from last week’s shocking decision as an actual talented signer was voted off in favour of the nervous, wavering tones of a prepubescent boyband.
8pm saw the nine finalists (113 if all the members of Stereo Kicks were included individually) sing their hearts out, praying their popularity could once again override the show’s obvious talent-vacuum now that most decent voices are gone.
7.5 million viewers tuned in to see both Mel B and Simon Cowell release one of their singing boys from their cages, fighting in a fierce battle of elimination with only their emotive voices as weapons.
Despite being overshadowed by the preppy lot on Strictly… the prolonged and public destruction of young people’s dreams still netted a 33% share for ITV.
At the same time on BBC One, The Doctor was still reeling from the shock twist that ‘Missy’ was the new regeneration of his old nemesis The Master on Doctor Who (8pm).
The final episode of the eighth series (34th if you’ve been really paying attention) saw the Doctor and Clara dealing with a lot of reoccurring characters meeting their end at the hands of The Master, while also trying to battle a plot so bizarre it could qualify for a Christmas Special.
5.4 million viewers and a 23% share watched as Clara supposedly said goodbye to The Doctor for good, netting a 23%.
Straight up afterwards was The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance (BBC One, 9:15pm) live from the Royal Albert Hall. A little under 5 million viewers tuned in to Joss Stone honour the dead, resulting in a 23% share.
Sunday’s TV line up continued in an equally sombre fashion with Remembrance Sunday: The Cenotaph airing live from Whitehall at 10:30am. An audience of 4 million (a 39% share) tuned in to pay their respects at the two hour event.
6pm saw Countryfile (BBC One) secure its usually impressive audience of 7.1 million viewers, with the special extended edition netting a 33% share.
At 7:45pm, Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One) was back with some welcome relief, kicking off 45 minutes of breezy fun. 9 million viewers watched the dance off between Big Brother contestant Alison Hammond and Big Brother’s Big Mouth presenter Caroline Flack, translating to a 35% share and Sunday’s biggest audience.
8pm on ITV, 7.2 million viewers watched as a novelty act remained standing while a talented singer was sent home for the second week in a row on The X Factor Results, translating to a 28% 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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