TV Overnights: Shirley’s messy night scores 7.4m for EastEnders
Last night’s (now-weekly) punch up in the Queen Vic attracted Tuesday’s biggest audience, pulling in a 35% audience share for EastEnders (7:30pm) on BBC One. 7.4 million viewers tuned in to see a dishevelled Shirley personify regret, waking up in Derek Branning’s bed with no memory of the night before. *shudder*. There have been few things broadcast before the watershed with the ability to scare small children as much as the sight of a hungover Shirley Carter, shuffling about the square feeling sorry for herself.
It’s a good job, then, that love is blind and only a few short hours after breaking up Phil Mitchell had decided that he wanted her back. Derek, the master comedian, taunted Phil in the Vic with a pair of ladies knickers, claiming he spent the night with Phil’s beloved. As the TV-watching nation made a collective dry gagging sound, Phil did us all a favour and put those famous fists to good use.
Later on the same channel the final instalment of Kay Mellor’s well-received dramedy, The Syndicate (9pm) brought the five-part series to a close, weaving together the five main character’s plots in a satisfying manner. In this week’s episode it was Jamie’s turn to deal with the ‘past coming back to haunt him’ after Leanne’s turbulent go last week.
The show has been securing a niche audience for itself over the past five weeks, consistently hitting the 5.4 million mark with the closing episode no exception. A 22% audience share watched as Jamie (played by the skinny version of Neville Longbottom) got tangled up with some Leeds gangsters, helping everyone reach the conclusion that money and happiness don’t go hand in hand.
Over on ITV1 Sir Trevor’s not so personal journey along the great Mississippi came to a delta of its own as the veteran broadcaster headed over to Missouri for the final leg. The Mighty Mississippi with Trevor McDonald (9pm) has seen a slight loss of viewers each week with last night’s episode bringing in an average audience of 2.4 million (a 10% share). Our intrepid explorer sleepwalked his way through iconic Southern imagery such as a trip paddle steamer in the hometown of Mark Twain and a visit to a baseball team on Independence Day. Held aloft by a cheerleading squad pyramid, Sir Trevor looked about as comfortable as he did his entire trip. Maybe he’s just not a people person.
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.