TV Overnights: ITV1’s 56 Up comes out on top in a night of documentaries
Last night’s prime time schedule was overrun with documentaries across all channels, providing a welcome break from scripted drama and reality programming.
But before all that highbrow nonsense there was the usual double trip to Coronation Street. The first episode at 7:30pm brought in the highest audience of the night as Eileen aired the smell out of her house after Lesley’s demise on Friday and suggested Paul take a break for a while (after palming his sick wife off on everybody else). 8.2 million people (a 38% share) watched as the Street’s toughest mother had to not only deal with nosey neighbours but also with the police; they too had shown an interest in her recent domestic activities. The second episode at 8:30pm was down slightly, with an audience of 8 million.
Sandwiched between the Weatherfield action was EastEnders at 8pm on BBC One. After threading the storyline along for a few months now, Ben Mitchell was slowly letting his dirty deed creep into the light. When the pressure is on and trust issues abound, what better way to relieve some stress than invite another person into your Dark Secret Club? 8 million people tuned in to see Ben snap and confess all to half-brother Ian, who will surely digest the information in a calm and thoughtful manner and will no way let this build upon the mountain of pressure he already faces. The snappily titled ‘Episode 4426’ pulled in a 36% share.
Over on BBC Two was Emily Maitlis who, after a quick edit and paste job, presented an updated version of her recent documentary about the planet’s largest social network in the light of the upcoming floatation. Inside Facebook: Zuckerberg’s $100 Billion Gamble (9pm) focused on the colossal internal changes the company is making and pulled in 951,000 viewers.
The latest instalment of Michael Apted’s sprawling documentary, 56 Up (ITV1, 9pm) caught up with TV’s original reality stars from the series that kicked it all off in 1964. It’s been 49 years since the cameras turned on a collection of seven year olds from various backgrounds and every seven years Apted has been tracing their varying fortunes. 4.5 million viewers caught up with the group, who are now aged 56 and mostly grandparents. An audience share of 19% looked back at their unique experience under the nation’s microscope.
Over on BBC One, new documentary series Chatsworth (9pm) catered to the nation’s unquenchable thirst for programming dealing with class division. Not to be confused with the fictional estate in Shameless, Chatsworth captured 17.6% of the available audience and focused on an area that was the polar opposite to Frank’s stomping grounds. If you’ve been reeling from the lack of new Downton Abbey/Upstairs Downstairs et al, the doc might fill the void (squinting your eyes and having a drink or four would only help). 4.1 million viewers caught up with the fly-on-the-wall show which took a look at the action in a stately home in Derbyshire, from the thoughts of the Duke and Duchess to the pressures facing the ‘lowly’ shop manager.
On Channel 4 at 9pm was the return of the show that serves as the antidote for our unprosperous and cynical times. The tenth series of The Secret Millionaire kicked off with theatre producer David King; a man who gave the world a magical combination of tango, flamenco, salsa and Irish Dancing in Spirit of the Dance and has never asked for anything in return. 1.3 million viewers tuned in to see David, who was in Leeds looking sad and downtrodden, as he couldn’t escape the reality of the unglamorous that he walked amongst.
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.