TV Overnights: Corrie’s latest bout of crazy brings in 7.7m for ITV
Last night saw MasterChef (BBC One, 9pm) make another valiant effort to wrap the current series up but failed to actually get rid of any contestants.
The 23rd and penultimate episode saw the final three amateur contenders face the incredible task of – you’ve guessed it – cooking various things.
Just to prove that they meant business, oval faced soulmates Gregg Wallace and John Torode wheeled out another ‘celebrity’ chef and professional mean person, Michael Caines, to take over those serious tasting duties.
5.2 million viewers tuned in to the see the final three hopeful chefs frantically slice ingredients and heat food through a variety of torturous and increasingly difficult methods (frying, baking etc).
After eight long weeks, the last episode before the finale really didn’t advance the narrative much but managed to secure an audience share of 19% regardless. The culinary codology did succeed to be the most watched show in the 9pm slot.
Meanwhile on ITV, Scott and Bailey (9pm) were up to their old tricks (and by old tricks, I mean staring out of windows glumly, worrying about men and dabbling in a bit of crime solving).
Wednesday night saw the ladies muddle on with their fairly rubbish lives, finding time to deal with drippy husbands, drunken mothers and psychotic killers. 4.4 million viewers tuned in to see the unique detective show pass the series’ halfway point, resulting in a 19% share.
At the same time on Channel 4 was the reality show that quite literally cuts a little too close to the bone. Viewers were once again invited to pull up a seat and enjoy sharing in strangers’ most horrifying and life changing traumatic experiences. All in shiny HD.
The fourth episode in the third series of One Dies Every Minute 24 Hours in A&E (9pm) manipulated viewers’ feelings by juxtaposing lonely, delicate, sickly seniors with the more extreme and boisterous emergencies.
The fly on the wall portion of real life medical drama secured a 9% share, with 2 million viewers tuning in to take bets on who will make it through the condensed day. The voyeuristic entertainment was the broadcaster’s biggest hit of the day.
Earlier on BBC One, Anne Robinson and her minions pandered to the audience’s victim-mentality with winning results. The 31st series of Watchdog (8pm) stuck to the familiar format, representing furious consumers against the evil of the corporate machine, with only the steely and righteous presenter standing up for the little people.
The mere presence of Matt Allwright and Chris Hollins should indicate what a complete farce the once-essential show has mutated into over the years. The opening episode covered worthy topics such as misleading mobile phone contracts and exasperating water bills, but managed to do all of this in the usual condescending manner. 4.4 million people lapped up TV’s most virtuous hour, securing a 20% share and the 8pm slot.
Earlier, Emmerdale (7pm) kicked off an hour of soapy goodness and brought in 6.3 million and a 35% share for ITV. 7:30pm brought viewers on the latest trip to Coronation Street (ITV) – the never-ending story seemingly based around a group of people who constantly hang out in a rubbish restaurant at the end of their street.
Ignoring all the off-screen drama, Wednesday night saw Leanne come close to realising that the Street may have attracted yet another crazed murderous killer in the form of highly suspicious looking Karl. Seriously, is it something to do with the postcode or something? Was Coronation Street built on an ancient Indian burial ground?
7.7 million viewers watched as the street’s full-time booze hound (and sometimes murderer of Sunita and destroyer of iconic pubs) let his mask slip slightly, bringing in a 38% share and the day’s biggest audience.
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.