ITV’s BGT fends off a weekend of grand sporting events
Saturday saw Channel 4 kick off a weekend of sporting and entertainment events by offering viewers the chance to get a glimpse of the ferocious action in Liverpool, as the world’s most famous steeplechase got under way for the 168th time on The Grand Nation Live from Aintree (1pm).
While the complete four hour and fifteen minute coverage of the race meeting managed an average audience of 2.7 million viewers and a 25% share, the main event saw viewers peak at a whopping 8.2 million for the big race at 4:15pm.
This led nicely to BBC One’s coverage of The Boat Race at 4:15pm, not only featuring the usual Cambridge and Oxford rivalry but also seeing women race on the same course for the first time.
While not quite as popular as their equine rivals, an average audience of 4.1 million viewers and a 27% share tuned in for all two hours and twenty minutes of rowing action from the River Thames.
The main event saw the audience reach 5.9 million at 6pm as the grunting Oxford team secured their victory.
A bit later on ITV, there was some more amusing rivalry in the form of Ninja Warrior (7pm), an international format in the vein of Total Wipeout which saw overconfident everyday folk fall like flies on the surprisingly basic obstacle course.
3.8 million viewers tuned in to see the Gladiators-for-grown-ups concept in action, as grown men and women scrabbled to hang on to some old curtains, in one of the course’s more unimpressive obstacles, resulting in a 21% share.
8pm saw Ant and Dec finally returned to ITV’s screens after a whole two days off, as the brand new series of Britain’s Got Talent, proved that the well of the country’s special people has yet to run dry.
A whopping 9.6 million viewers tuned in to see another indistinguishable series get under way as judges Simon, Amanda and Alesha did their best to convince the audience that were legally awake throughout proceedings.
The latest spate of somewhat talented and mentally ill auditionees helped secure a 43% share for ITV.
Back on BBC One, Saturday night staple Casualty had the smarts to stay out of the talent show’s way and managed to bring in 4.2 million viewers and a 20% share at 9:20pm.
On Sunday there was some more sporting action on offer over on BBC One as Formula 1: The Chinese Grand Prix – Highlights pulled in 3 million viewers and a 25% share at 2pm.
All remained quiet until the rebellious rural rumpus of Countryfile (BBC One) rumbled along at 6:30pm, with the exciting trip to North Cumbria helping secure 5.8 million viewers and a 30% share. Straight afterwards, a sly 30 minute edition of MasterChef slipped in at 7:30pm and brought in over 5 million viewers.
Just because the broadcaster can’t seem to function without at least one regional detective on air any given week, Sunday evening saw the return of detective-of-the-people, Vera (8pm).
An audience of 4.6 million viewers tuned in to see the straight-talking northern copper bring her brand of sass to yet another tale of a slaughtered young woman, with the two hour case resulting in a 19% share.
At 9pm, it was time for Poldark to whip off his clothes once again, single-handedly guaranteeing to retain the feverish Sunday night following the period drama has built up.
The sixth episode saw Ross Poldark and kitchen-wench-turned-main-squeeze Demelza attempt a stuffy party in which our antagonist decided to get a bit fighty. 5.5 million viewers tuned in to see the social scandal of old unfold, resulting in a 23% share.
A bit later on ITV, it was all air-kissing and ‘darling’-dropping as the country’s most prestigious luvvies gathered together to celebrate actor’s acting in The Oliver Awards (10:15pm). While only 679,000 viewers tuned in live, the event was the most tweeted about show of the day.
Not only were theatre types out in strength, some actual recognisable faces also made an appearance, with a 5% share clamouring to get a glance at him off X-Men and her from The X Files.
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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