Larry Lamb’s addition to New Tricks line-up watched by 5.4m
Despite the fact that New Tricks and change have never been very happy bedfellows, last night saw BBC One’s ageing retired detective drama push through another major modification as Larry Lamb joined the crime-solving Tricksters for the remainder of the final ever series.
The old-people-can-be-hip-and-valuable-too show has suffered over the past two years due to a mass exodus of original characters, and last week saw last man standing Dennis Waterman exit for good while making room for his new replacement.
Two weeks ago the twelfth and final series got under way with 5.3 million viewers, rising last week with 5.7 million viewers tuning in to discover ex-DS Standing’s (Waterman) fate. While this is noticeably down on previous years, it was still an impressive enough summer audience to secure the prime time spot for BBC One on both occasions.
Last night’s ‘all new’ visit to the offices of UCOS was no different, with yesterday’s 5.4 million viewers seeing the dusty copper show bag its slot and bring in a 27% share.
At the same time, BBC Two and ITV were enjoying spreading a bit of education-panic with two separate shows despairing about the state of today’s youth.
School Swap – The Class Divide (ITV, 9pm) was the first of three episodes documenting three pupils from a state school in Derby swap places with their contemporaries in a Wiltshire Boarding school. 1.4 million viewers watched as the kids attempted to learn things about each other but mainly played Xbox, with the ‘social experiment’ netting a 7% share.
On BBC Two, Are Our Kids Tough Enough? Chinese School (9pm) reached its conclusion after three episodes as the bewildered kids faced an examination to find out if the harsh Chinese approach worked best. 1.3 million viewers and a 7% share watched to see if the gobby brats could be transformed into studious scholars.
At the same time on Channel 5 was the final episode of the second series of Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole (9pm), the broadcaster’s low-rent version of Channel 4’s Benefits Street (if you can imagine such a thing).
Slightly more depressing that usual, last night’s slice of desolation and lost hope focused on ex-convicts who struggled to get back into society while claiming help from the state.
An audience of 1.1 million tuned in to see a man named Baggy contemplate a way to get back inside, resulting in a 5% share.
For those looking to wrap up their day with something a little more disturbing, Channel 4 had Terror On Everest – Surviving the Nepal Earthquake (9pm) a harrowing account of the tragedy that struck in April this year.
851,000 viewers tuned in to see the shocking scenes play out via the now standard medium of smart phone footage, resulting in a 4% share.
A little earlier Holby City (8pm) brought in 4.1 million viewers and a 21% share to BBC One, while on BBC Two The House That £100K Built (8pm) was watched by 1.6 million viewers and an 8% share.
On ITV, 2.3 million viewers tuned in to Alan Titchmarsh Love Your Wild Garden (8pm) while The Three Day Nanny (8pm) on Channel 4 captured 1.1 million viewers.
At the same time, Channel 5 secured its biggest audience with The Dog Rescuers with Alan Davies (8pm) which brought in 1.2 million viewers and a 6% share.
[advert position=”left”]Even earlier at 7pm, Emmerdale (ITV) continued to deal with the aftermath of slaughter week as the village gathered together for a memorial. 5.5 million viewers watched as troubled vicar Ashley said the wrong name during the service (in fairness, it is hard to keep up) resulting in a 32% share.
Ultimately, it was EastEnders (BBC One, 7:30pm) that took the top spot as a familiar face was busy lurking about Albert Square.
Last night’s drama saw (not-actually-dead) Kathy Beale hide out in the Mitchell’s garage like a spectre of yesteryear haunting E20 from the shadows, with the slow-burning return of one the soap’s icons netting 6.1 million viewers and a 33% 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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