TV Overnights: The X Factor and Vera fends off Sunday’s competition for ITV
Like it or not, this weekend saw Saturday night TV return with a bang as Simon Cowell’s not-quite dead horse was launched for another series of highly profitable flogging.
Despite a continuous loss of viewers each series, The X Factor (8pm) still remains ITV’s shining jewel in its annual schedule, even with all those pesky phone line regulations. Although there have been some knee jerk behind the scenes changes, it wasn’t quite time for producers to fully panic and bring back Cowell.
Instead viewers were treated to the return of Sharon Osbourne, an odd-looking out-spoken individual who came courtesy of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, who was replacing charisma vacuum and part time fixer Tulisa.
Last August, the ninth series’ creaking format began to show with the opening episode only managing 8 million viewers. The retooled ‘back to basics’ approach (stadium auditions have been dropped and…that’s it) seems to have paid off for the commercial broadcaster with audiences peaking at 9 million viewers in the final fifteen minutes.
On average, 8.8 million viewers tuned in for the One hour and 20 minute return of Louis, Sharon, Gary and some stripper, netting an impressive 40% share and the weekend’s biggest audience.
Speaking of hyperactive and manipulated Muppets, the disturbingly ill-conceived That Puppet Game Show limped towards its tragic end (Vernon Kay and fleece skin equals nightmare fuel) at 5:15pm on BBC One.
Starting out five weeks ago with 2.5 million viewers, the scripted calamity has dropped in popularity with only 1 million viewers (an 8% share) tuning in to see guests Shane Richie and Janice The Muppet interacting (pictured).
Later on in the prime time slot, BBC One’s Casualty (8:40pm) was feeling a little burned from all the fracas over on ITV but recovered once The X Factor ended at 9:20pm. In total, 3.8 million viewers and a 17% share tuned in for the latest from the UK’s most theatrical hospital, resulting in BBC One’s biggest hit of the day.
For some mad reason, unbeknownst to anyone, Saturday saw the return of stalkers’ favourite Through the Keyhole (ITV, 9:20pm) re-jigged for a Saturday night audience with more innuendo, a dollop of wrong and 100% more Keith Lemon.
Unfortunate enough to air the same weekend as original host Sir David Frost’s death (it hasn’t been denied that the show wasn’t directly responsible) 5.3 million people tuned in, hoping they’ll last the next seven days. The cheeky fun, which brought together TV legends Eamonn Holmes and Martine McCutcheon, captured a 27% share and Saturday’s second biggest audience.
In comparison, Sunday’s schedule did a much better job of attracting a wider audience as the rival broadcasters unleashed their ultimate weapons. ITV went down a vicious ‘take no prisoners’ route by airing an episode of Coronation Street (7pm) on a Sunday.
There was at least some plot development to be had in last night’s hour long special as Sunita-slayer Carl finally admitted his guilt. Unfortunately the recipient of the vital information was walking vegetable Jason, so it might be another few months yet before comeuppance is dealt out. 6.6 million impatient viewers and a 30% share tuned in for the admission.
Over on BBC One, Countryfile secured 5.4 million viewers at 7pm while Antiques Roadshow managed 5.2 million at 8pm, despite going head to head with The X Factor (their audiences don’t overlap apparently).
9.2 million fickle viewers ignored the intoxicating charms of Fiona Bruce and her dusty wares, tuning in to the weekend’s second slice of judgmental drama instead. Sunday’s return to the tension filled audition room was the biggest hit of the weekend.
To wash out the nasty light entertainment aftertaste, the two main broadcasters offered viewers the chance to end their weekends on a greyer, more desolate note.
The second episode of What Remains, a grim uncomfortable hug of a show, saw David Threlfall’s haunted detective lurk about last week’s crime scene a bit more, netting 3.7 million viewers and a 16% share.
On ITV, Brenda Blethyn’s quirky and misunderstood detective, Vera (ITV, 9pm) was back for another hour of sifting through bloody crime scenes. The hunt to track down two missing girls brought in an impressive 36% share and 4.9 million viewers.
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.