TV Overnights: Nicholas Lyndhurst’s addition to New Tricks sends middle aged viewers into a frenzy
Tuesday evening brought a whole myriad of new problems for the brave souls on The Great British Bake Off (BBC Two, 8pm) as a variety of breaded goodness was on the menu.
Paul Hollywood, the unchallenged king of dough pounding, kept a careful eye over his sweatshop of workers as they were tasked with bread sticks, muffins and the usual show stopper. As is the biggest appeal of the show, last night saw the contestants pushed to their mental limits as they struggled to fulfil the potential they felt they had.
Compared to last week’s opening episode, a slightly smaller audience tuned in for last night’s challenge with 5.3 million viewers pulled into the moist doughy atmosphere of BBC Two. In the end, Mary and Paul’s latest dismissal attracted a 24% share – the biggest for the time slot.
At the same time on sister channel BBC One, the ever dependable Holby City (8pm) opened its doors to the latest round of sickly – yet highly dramatic and articulate – patients. As usual, a dedicated audience of 4.3 million viewers (a 19% share) feverishly tuned in for their latest fix.
Meanwhile, over in the realm of adverts and sponsorships, ITV offered two and a half hours of hot football action with the UEFA Champions League (8pm). Only 2.3 million people were pulled in by the gravity of Arsenal facing off against Turksih team Fenerbahce at Emirates Stadium. The games peaked at 3.3 million viewers half an hour after kick off, with an average share of 10%.
Despite the flashy visuals and glorious HD coverage, it was autumn-toned middle aged extravaganza New Tricks that got viewers all hot and bothered.
After dropping by 1 million viewers in the past two weeks, last night’s audience bounced back up to the dizzying heights of the series ten opener five weeks ago, as a dishy young recruit was drafted in to target those younger viewers. Garden-fresh whippersnapper Nicholas Lyndhurst (you may know him from edgy youth sitcom Only Fools and Horses) stepped up to become the fourth corner of the dusty UCOS team.
The fifth episode in the latest run of New Tricks was watched by 7.5 million viewers, meaning either Lyndhurst has still got it, or older viewers are really starved for relevant content. Of all the excitable viewers that tuned in, amazingly only 447,000 were aged 16 to 34. The cold case procedural attracted a 32% share, easily securing the 9pm slot.
Despite the overwhelming popularity of BBC One’s geriatric ventures the other channels still had to try. Over on Channel 4 the second series of grimy drama Top Boy (9pm) continued. It’s always tough at the top and poor old Dushane had to deal with a number of unsatisfied Albanians.
Despite the marketing and general positive buzz, only 821,000 viewers tuned in for Dushane’s latest bad day at the office, bringing in a 4% share.
BBC Two offered viewers another chance to get up close and personal with the unglamorous look at birthing in action. The Midwives (9pm), kind of like One Born Every Minute but with actual camera men, couldn’t quite match the success of the earlier Bake Off but managed 1.9 million viewers nonetheless.
There was another swap-around for the nation’s second favourite soap as EastEnders (BBC One, 7:30pm) clambered its way past Emmerdale (ITV, 7pm).
ITV’s rural offering was watched by 5.8 million viewers and a 34% share, while on the BBC the kids of Walford ventured out into the wilderness.
You know how the old adage goes – you can take the kids out of Walford but you can’t take the knack for experiencing miserable and unfortunate events in everyday life out of the kids. 6.4 million viewers watched as Jay, Abi and the rest of the Square’s young people made a summer forest seem a little greyer and futile.
6.4 million viewers watched as they somehow managed to get burgled in the middle of nowhere, securing a 34% 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.