Flood of ob-docs can’t compete with repeat of Death in Paradise
Viewers tuning in to sample Tuesday night’s assembly of top shelf entertainment weren’t greeted with a huge variety of genres to choose from, with most of the main broadcasters’ output falling in to the relatively cost-effective genre of observational documentaries.
BBC Two debuted yet another series set in London’s Great Ormond Street (9pm) hospital but easily proved itself a location worthy of viewers’ attention.
The first of three episodes focused on the medical professionals, the children with life-threatening illnesses and the frayed parents struggling to keep a brave face.
Uncalculating in the best possible way, the touching documentary kept things simple, allowing the humdrum, yet harrowing, scenes to play out for themselves. 1.4 million viewers tuned in to see the brave kids battle through the grave prognoses, resulting in a 7% share.
Doing better was the slightly frothier glamour of Virgin Atlantic: Up in the Air (9pm), with the second episode of ITV’s premium PR exercise continuing to focus on the company’s extremely enthusiastic staff.
Inviting viewers to join in and drink the cool aid, the constant red and white branding came across as a corporate brainwashing but provided the usual ‘workplace documentary’ beats as not to alienate the audience.
Last week’s opening episode, which saw a group of very eager hopefuls compete for a very low-paid cabin job, secured 2.3 million viewers but yesterday’s instalment managed to improve on that. An audience of 2.7 million viewers tuned in to see the highly excitable staff receive their new Vivienne Westwood-designed uniforms, resulting in a 14% share.
Over on Channel 4, the exploitative juvenile fun of Child Genius (9pm) continued as more once-confident youngsters were reduced to tears all in the name of entertainment.
A baying audience of 1.2 million viewers watched as the pushy parents reached snapping point as the competition intensified, leading to uncomfortable scenes and a 6% share.
As usual, Channel 5 offered up something completely different as viewers were brought down Essex way for another daily dose of welfare-based amusement. Benefits by the Sea: Jaywick (9pm) detailed the financial difficulties faced by the coastal community and pulled in 1.2 million viewers and a 6% share, resulting in the broadcaster’s biggest hit of the day.
The one observational exception in the 9pm slot was found over on BBC One, as Kris Marshall and his bubbling every man shtick got a second chance to entertain the masses in an exciting repeat of Death in Paradise‘s third series.
The colossally popular slice of hammy fun netted 6.6 million viewers when it was originally broadcast back in February 2014, but the tale of the slaughtered air stewardess still managed to impress last night.
The biggest 9pm audience – 3.3 million viewers – caught up with the repeat, netting a 17% share.
BBC One was also doing well in the 8pm slot, with Holby City bringing in 4.1 million viewers and a 22% share, while property show The House That £100k Built won over 1.6 million viewers and a 9% share on BBC Two.
At the same time, Love Your Garden was watched by 2.6 million people on ITV, Channel 4’s Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners captured 1.1 million viewers and The Dog Rescuers with Alan Davies pulled in 1.1 million viewers on Channel 5.
At 7pm, the latest round of betrayal, crime and violence in the quiet little village of Emmerdale (ITV) pulled in 5.3 million viewers and a 30% share – ITV’s biggest hit of the day.
But it was Ian Beale’s ongoing woes on EastEnders (BBC One, 7:30pm) that secured Tuesday’s number one spot as the Walford patriarch learned that the police had a new lead in Lucy’s murder case. All this, despite the fact devil-child Bobby was secretly unveiled as the killer in the live 30th anniversary episode.
An audience of 6.4 million viewers tuned in to see Ian make that concerned face, resulting in a winning 34% 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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