TV Overnights: Sorry ladies – Doc Martin’s wedding nets 7.6m for ITV
There was very good news last night for viewers who have been pining away for the magnetic ridges of a real actor’s face – Martin Clunes’ Doc Martin finally returned after a torturous two year break.
Viewers were invited back to the land of quaint make-believe as the pessimistic practitioner was somehow preparing to marry an actual lady, who was also very pretty.
Recently his earthy yet privileged mug has been kept away from the British public, consigned to record numerous voiceovers in darkened basements – ITV has been using the actors dulcet tones to guide us through thrilling prime time programming ranging from topics like heavy horses to little doggies (mad about the animals, him).
Finally let loose in the Cornwall village, Clunes slipped back into the role with ease, attracting the night’s third biggest audience in the process. The tension-filled ceremony (no, not really) was watched by an average audience of 7.6 million viewers and a 33% share.
His marital joining with his aesthetically superior counterpart easily secured the 9pm slot for the commercial broadcaster.
If the genteel village goings on were a bit too much to stomach then BBC One had the antidote for you as Motorway Cops jetted viewers off to glamorous Bradford at 9pm.
The Traffic Cops spin off show also treated the viewing public to breathtaking lush HD shots of the M62, bringing in a 10% share. The carnival of dodgy drivers and intoxicated motor enthusiasts was watched by 2.3 million viewers.
At the same time, BBC Two was sneaking a bit of education into the nation’s living rooms. With a title like Robert Preston Goes Shopping (9pm) you’d expect a light and breezy stroll with the BBC’s business editor down Oxford Street or, more likely, the King’s Road.
But no – 1.3 million disappointed retail fans tuned in to find out that the journalist was more concerned with society’s changing attitudes post World War II than the latest deals at Claire’s Accessories.
Perhaps for a second series it can be retooled as a gruelling reality show in which brave Robert has to survive 24 hours trapped in Westfield with a gang of feverish youths, who have no respect for marketing synergy. That might improve on the 5% share.
Channel 4 continued to pump its schedule with American patriotic sentimentality with The Lost Hero of 9/11 at 9pm. There’s clearly a market for wallowing in global traumatic events with World Trade Centre-focused programming cluttering up the channel’s schedule lately. 1.1 million people tuned in for the tale of super heroic mystery man set amongst the carnage.
As is usual for a Monday the soaps swamped the teatime schedule, bagging three of the top four biggest audiences of the day. Even less surprising was the fact that two episodes of Coronation Street walked away with the day’s top spots.
8 million viewers watched at 7:30pm as Hayley faced a serious operation, taking an impressive 40% share. However, it was more remarkable that the second episode at 8:30pm actually improved on the first, attracting the day’s biggest audience.
Hayley’s remarkably quick operation and extremely depressing prognosis pulled in 8.2 million viewers and a 36% share. There’ll be tears around Christmas, no doubt.
Stuck in between on BBC One was another round of wide boy posturing and cockney gurning in the first EastEnders (8pm) of the week. Carl’s latest bout of nonsensical and unrealistic behaviour netted 6.9 million viewers and a 31% share.
First out of the soap dispenser was Emmerdale at 7pm on ITV as Rhona struggled to save her marriage whilst battling an onslaught of tempting and yummy drugs. 6.5 million viewers tuned in for a bit of rural relaxation, with 407,000 of those choosing to watch the tears flow in shiny HD.
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.