TV Overnights: BBC One’s night of drama secures steady audience
EastEnders was the most watched programme on Tuesday night, bringing an audience of 8.1 million to BBC One. The episode went out at 7:30pm and 36% of the available audience watched as Mandy accused Lorraine of stealing money from Walford’s version of Lord Sugar, Ian Beale.
Things are moving fast for Ed and Aaron on Emmerdale (ITV1, 7pm) as they ventured out on their first date. A slightly smaller audience (compared to Monday) of 6.8 million tuned in to see the night not going exactly to plan, securing an audience share of 31.4%.
This was followed by FA Cup Football at 7:30pm featuring the replay between Birmingham and Chelsea at St Andrew’s. 3.4 million viewers watched as Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory in their first game without former manager Andre Villas-Boas. As usual the audience peaked in the final moments, reaching 3.9 million viewers around 9pm.
Once again BBC One’s commitment to prime time scripted drama determined a steady audience throughout the evening. EastEnders was followed by Holby City – with the medical drama taking a 20% audience share. 4.9 million people tuned in to see enthusiastic new doctor Tara let inexperience get the better of her, putting patient’s lives in danger as a result.
The final episode of Prisoner’s Wives went out at 9pm with heavily pregnant Gemma putting herself in harms way. 4.3 million viewers tuned in to catch the conclusion of the critically acclaimed first series.
Alex Polizzo – The Fixer (9pm) provided BBC Two’s biggest audience of the night. The final episode of the series, which saw the professional hotelier bothering a family who run a flour mill in Norfolk, was watched by two million viewers.
Meanwhile, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings over on Channel 4 at 9pm was watched by an audience of 4.4 million. This week’s episode explored the issues faced by travellers who are in relationships with people outside their community, resulting in the channel’s biggest audience share of the night (17.5%).
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.