TV Overnights: Corden’s ‘cheeky’ BRITs nets 7m for ITV
Fans of easy-to-digest content were in for a thrilling afternoon on BBC One – not only was the saccharine glory of The One Show (BBC One, 7pm) on offer but this was followed by the mind-numbing propaganda of Holiday Hit Squad.
The flagship channel’s prime time chat show offered up some quality hard-hitting natter in the shape of eager simpleton, Matt Baker, interviewing some high calibre talent. Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph all reunited on the famous couch while juggling such abrasive questions like “Aren’t puppies nice?” and the like. Somehow, some way, the hour of condescending twaddle captured an audience of 4.2 million viewers.
Afterwards, Angela Rippon came up with different ways to scare us from leaving the United Kingdom ever again on the bizarre Holiday Hit Squad (BBC One, 8pm). This week, the veteran TV person learned how to wash her hands properly when surrounded by contaminated foreigners.
3.4 million viewers watched as Angela repeated the phrase ‘runny tummy’ once too often while gleefully studying the innards of an eager guest Smart Person, who had a live feed coming directly from his large intestine. That’s not a planet the old dear is looking at btw. The latest slice of xenophobic action secured a 14% share.
Despite the hullabaloo surrounding ITV’s coverage of James Corden last night, the station’s two evening soaps managed to bag the top audiences last night. Emmerdale scored 6.9 million viewers and a 32% share at 7pm.
Even though ITV’s later evening entertainment offered up a glut of needy celebrities all vying for your attention, the sight of a gobby 26 year old (who still dresses like a child) getting drunk in her grubby local had more pulling power.
Just before the biggest awards show to air this week, there was time for a quick visit to the happy folk of Coronation Street (ITV, 7:30pm). Poor old Kylie has been going through a lot lately and dealt with her midweek demons in the only way she knew how. Wednesday night saw the troubled pregnant tart hitting the Rovers and dabbling in a spot of binge drinking.
Kylie’s wild night out on the cobbles napped the top position with an audience of 8.6 million and 36% share.
If you were excited about The BRIT Awards 2013 at 8pm then you clearly didn’t see The Brits Red Carpet 2013 (ITV2) from 7pm. Another determined Irish presenter and Rizzle Kicks (seriously) were on hand to host awkward one sentence interviews with the glamorous stars. 350,000 didn’t have the good sense to stay away.
Thankfully for ITV, the main event had much more appeal over the prime time audience, to the point that those twotters on the internet couldn’t stop twatting about it. 6.2 million people sat back in the warm glow of James Corden’s hilarious presence (he’s overweight, people find it funny). The hosts did have the decency to slag off the majority of unworthy nominations, helping attract a 27% share.
Over on the other side, the BBC continued to indulge their obsession with genealogy, travel and topping up on those precious air miles. Meet the Izzards (BBC One, 9pm) might have seemed like just another excuse to hop on a plane to capture yet more exotic locations in glorious HD, but there was more than meets the eye to this ‘genealogy odyssey’.
Comedian, actor and now general personality, Eddie Izzard, was also on hand to interrupt the beautiful shots of mountains and seas as he followed the source of his genetic markers all the way back to the human exodus of the African continent. Which was a while back now. We also learned he’s a little bit Viking too.
The fascinating documentary didn’t fare as well as the recent Africa or even the last series of Who Do You Think You Are? but, to be fair, the mash-up had to contend with the musical genius of One Direction. 2.6 million viewers traced Izzard’s journey through his mother’s linage (careful now), resulting in an 11% share.
Later on at 10pm, Channel 4 broadcast the third episode of the extremely divisive Derek. The latest adventure in gurning saw the retirement home worker selling his collection of autographs. Just under half a million people tuned in but the show remained as popular as ever in the Twittersphere.
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.