TV Overnights: A torrent of colourful wildlife brings in solid results for both ITV and BBC One
Wednesday night treated desperate viewers to a plethora of beautiful celebrity faces, taste and glamour, delivering a spectacle not seen on our TV screens since the prestigious Pride of Britain Awards back in October.
Yes, that’s right – after 12 long months it was finally time for the return of the carnival of quality known as The National Television Awards 2013 (ITV, 7:30pm), live from London’s o2 arena.
Judging from the insane amount of reality ‘stars’ on show the tube home must have been a nightmare – there wouldn’t have been room to move for Args and Spencers.
ITV even upped the star wattage factor – there wasn’t a Carol Vordeman, Kate Thornton or an Amanda Holden allowed anywhere near the stage. The commercial broadcaster went all out, securing the most prestigious name in light entertainment presenting duties: the prominent ceremony rescued Dermot O’ Leary from the lower levels of obscurity (The Marriage Ref, ITV) to give everyone’s favourite plastic paddy another chance in the spotlight.
People find it difficult enough to sit through hours of the Hollywood A-list festival of self-congratulation that is the Oscars, yet ITV offered up two and a half hours of shots showing Hollyoaks stars eagerly anticipating their turn in the spotlight.
ITV even rolled out Ashleigh and Pudsey one more time before another series of Britain’s Got Talent kicks off and the duo are dropped off somewhere on the M50 and have to make their own way back home.
5.6 million viewers stayed tuned in for the entire ego massaging event, witnessing Downton Abbey trashing Doctor Who and Coronation Street getting one over on EastEnders.
But the clever viewing public didn’t just embrace the light side of the telly box – your hard hitting morning dose of solid facts that is This Morning walked away with Most Popular Daytime Programme. Even though it’s on in the morning. An average audience share of 23% was enough to secure the biggest share for an hour and forty minutes. And then disaster struck.
The stars of the silver screen, our own modern day equivalent of Roman Gladiators – or gods, even – were suddenly upstaged by a group of baby turtles fighting for survival on their first day out of the nest.
After three episodes of parched domains, David Attenborough turned his amazing HD cameras on the lush Southern Cape of Africa (BBC One, 9pm).
The nature programme offered up an excess of stunning images; gasping deserts transforming to lush botanical gardens in Spring, baby turtles making their first splash in the colossally overwhelming Indian ocean and thousands of butterflies dancing in the heights of a recently discovered rainforest.
There’s some satisfaction in knowing that the sight of two drunk monkey beetles battling out for the love of a lady (also a monkey beetle btw) atop a flower can pull in more viewers than spray-tanned oxygen thieves.
The documentary stole the largest audience share away during the 9pm slot from ITV’s gaudy back ceremony, with an average share of 22% and an audience of 5.8 million viewers.
There wasn’t much in the way of competition for the 9pm slot. Elsewhere, there were more women screaming their heads off in the latest trip to Leeds Infirmary in One Born Every Minute (Channel 4, 9pm). Last night’s episode focused on the fathers-to-be and their daddy issues, pulling in 1.8 million viewers and a 7% share.
Over on Channel 5 was the latest visit to the Celebrity Big Brother house but things were fairly quiet as they were all out at the TV Awards after party. Last night’s ‘action’ secured 1.8 million and an 8% share.
Say what you will about a person who likes to come home from work, sit down in front of the TV and watch other people bake but they’re a dedicated bunch, if nothing else. ITV’s award show couldn’t pull dedicated viewers away from BBC Two at 8pm for the third and penultimate episode of The Great Comic Relief Bake Off.
Another four hopefuls entered the tent of torture as comedian Bob Mortimer and Countryfile presenter attempted to impress Mary Berry with their warm scones. A sturdy 3.7 million viewers tuned in to see Paralympic victor Ellie Simmonds walk away with the crown of Star Baker bestowed upon her, resulting in a 15% share.
Earlier on in the evening was ITV’s sure-fire hit and Most Popular Serial Drama of 2013, Coronation Street (7:30pm). In the aftermath of his worst wedding yet, winner of Outstanding Serial Drama Performance 2013, Tyrone Dobbs, was having another rubbish week.
To make things worse, professional mentalist Kirsty was back under his roof, adding a little light violence to his mid-week. 8 million viewers watched as the Street’s latest bad girl mistimed an attack at the top of her staircase and went tumbling all the way down. The 15th visit to Weatherfield’s A&E in the past fortnight secured the biggest share for the half an hour time slot, with 35%
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.