Lewis bids farewell after 28 years on ITV with 3.8m viewers
After 28 eight long years of slaughtered academics and scenic Oxford backdrops, last night finally brought an end to the career of one Detective Inspector Robbie Lewis in a suitably gentle exit.
After portraying the once-bumbling junior officer for seven series and five TV specials on Inspector Morse, actor Kevin Whatley was given his very own spin off series in 2006, six years after the original show wrapped up and four years on from the death of original star, John Thaw.
Following on in a very similar vein to its predecessor, Lewis (ITV, 9pm) saw the now-weathered sleuth return to Oxford after a series of personal losses, each week facing off against another local executioner, usually with a taste for the academic.
Joined by his trusty partner, the youthful and clever DI Hathaway (Laurence Fox), the initial return of Lewis brought in a whopping 10.6 million viewers way back in January 2006.
The first six series brought viewers a two-hour mini-movie each week à la Morse before ITV made the decision to prolong each series in 2013 by spreading each case across two weeks.
Nine years after his return Lewis and Hathaway cracked 33 distinct cases, with the conclusion of last week’s crime bringing a definitive end to proceedings. Yesterday saw the dynamic duo race around Oxford to bring a letter bomber to justice, with Lewis under pressure to wrap things up before a well-earned break in New Zealand.
In total, an audience of 3.8 million viewers tuned in to wave goodbye to one of TV’s longest standing coppers and the most treacherous academic town in TV history, bringing a close to 28 years of continuous storytelling.
Whether Hathaway pops up on next year’s TV schedule or if the powers that be are happy to continue rolling out Morse prequel series, Endeavour, is anyone’s guess at this stage, but last night’s 18% share meant that there’s definitely some life (and violent death) left in the old town yet.
On the other end of the spectrum was BBC One’s moody London-set psychological procedural, River (9pm), with the fifth and penultimate episode of the Nordic inspired drama.
Quite literally haunted by the death of his ex-partner, last night saw John River (Stellan Skarsgard) make some headway in the case while still struggling with his mental problems. The first episode secured 3.9 million viewers before the heavy tone saw the second instalment suffer from a -26% fall.
Yesterday’s adventure into darkness brought in 2.6 million viewers and a 13% share.
Despite lots of Twitter mentions and a prominent spot of Gogglebox, the second episode of BBC Two’s The Great Pottery Throw Down (9pm) didn’t quite see the show explode into Bake Off-levels just yet.
Last week’s introduction to the suspiciously familiar concept bagged 1.9 million viewers, with yesterday’s dollop of wet clay securing 2.1 million viewers and a 10% share.
On Channel 4, the latest 24 Hours in A&E (9pm) netted 2.1 million viewers (a 10% share) while Channel 5’s bizarre Eamonn & Ruth: How the Other Half Lives (9pm) was watched by 1.1 million and a 5% share.
The day’s top two spots belonged to the teatime soaps, with ITV’s Emmerdale nabbing second place with 5.8 million viewers and a 31% share while the latest drama on EastEnders bagged the top spot with 6.6 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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