TV Overnights: BGT beats Monday’s sunshine with 9.9m viewers for ITV
Yesterday saw Britain’s Got Talent (ITV, 7:30pm) (the old school variety show spliced with a heavy dose of modern malice) go up against the most distracting event of the year so far – bank holiday sunshine.
Despite the threat for viewer’s devotion, it seemed by yesterday evening as if the UK’s audience had had enough of the giant yellow ball in the sky as Simon Cowell’s slight variation on his other gig secured the biggest audience of the day.
The first semi-final (of many, no doubt) provided something for everyone as the episode saw the traditional array for unfunny comedians, child comedians, opera singers from the ‘street’ and, of course, child singers take to the stage.
A whopping 9.9 million viewers tuned into to see Amanda Holden and Alicia Dixon, of all people, cast their judgement (their opinions hold weight for some mental reason that’s not particularly obvious) and make people cry. The Talent Queen’s 1.5 hour ruling brought in an impressive 42% share, resulting in the most popular show of the day.
Straight afterwards soap fans were in for a treat as Coronation Street After Dark (ITV, 9pm) continued to delve into the seedy underside of Weatherfield. Last night’s episode surprised viewers as the Rover’s Return wasn’t the only street mainstay be given another grand opening.
9.5 million viewers watched as the soap’s spray-tanned Helen of Troy went into early labour with Gary and Izzy’s surrogate baby. There’s never a quiet Monday, is there? The dramatic goings on, which featured lots of screaming, captured a 36% share – proving fiddly schedule adjustments can’t really damage a soap’s popularity if the audience is completely dependent.
The lucky audience was treated to yet more bright lights and prolonged descriptions of ability as Britain’s Got Talent Results (ITV) went out at 9:30pm. 7.8 million viewers watched the outcome of their votes as Youth Creation (which featured around 600 screaming children in day-glo clothes) were sent into the recycling mincer in favour of solitary child singer Arisxandra (she spelt it wrong).
The multiple and simultaneous destruction of dreams pulled in a 31% share for the channel.
For Emmerdale Before Dark (ITV, 7pm) earlier, it was simply business as usual as the charming rural soap continued to delight families with typical pre-watershed goings on such as psychological intimidation, manslaughter, drug addiction and whoring (Cain’s words, not mine).
The family fun brought in 6.7 million viewers and a 32% share, kicking off ITV’s dominant night.
The poor old BBC struggled to keep up with all the fun, games and schedule changing over on its commercial rival. BBC One’s secret weapon came in the form of a repeat of Antiques Roadshow at 7:30pm, yet somehow the UK’s audience failed to be set alight. 3.5 million viewers tuned in for Fiona Bruce’s latest OAP adventure, with a repeat of Miranda gathering 2.5 million viewers at 8:30pm.
The Beeb brought out the big guns for the 9pm slot as obsessed horse person Clare Balding brought us The Queen: A Passion for Horses. The hour long programme detailed the Queen’s love for ponies and what not, highlighting her talent for breeding. 3.5 million discerning viewers tuned (in protest against ITV, possibly) resulting in a 14% 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.