Scientology Row Nets Record Audience For Panorama

John Sweeney’s controversial documentary on the Church of Scientology was a ratings triumph for BBC One’s Panorama, attracting an impressive adult audience of almost 4.2 million on average.

Well done to the corporation for providing pre-screening coverage of Sweeney exploding at church leader Tommy Davis, and publicising the fact that the clip was on video sharing site YouTube.

The result was the current affairs show’s best viewing figures since its move to the Monday night slot, giving the channel a 20% audience share for the exploration of the celebrity endorsed “cult”.

Over on ITV1 at the same time, Coronation Street‘s second instalment pulled in an average of 8.5 million, a 40.4% share, whilst almost 8.2 million had tuned in to EastEnders on BBC One earlier in the evening, as May continued her scheming to win back estranged husband Rob and seek revenge on his pregnant mistress Dawn.

Corrie‘s first edition attracted around 9.2 million (50%), as Steve and Michelle were caught kissing in the back room and word soon got out about their blossoming relationship.

Also a hit for the commercial broadcaster, Driving Me Crazy lured around four million adults between 9pm and 10pm. The first of three programmes, which offers celebrities the chance to get something off their chest on the subject of motoring, gave ITV1 an 18.3% viewing share.

However, it was BBC One’s New Tricks, featuring TV veterans Amanda Redman and Dennis Waterman as retired cops who reinvestigate unsolved crimes, that was again the big hit, grabbing 8.2 million adult viewers or a share of 37.4% between 9pm and 10pm.

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, ITV2 and Sky One.

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com