TV viewing round-up: August 2016

For some unknown reason, BBC One decided August would be a great time to produce a series of one-off programmes to celebrate some of the classic sitcoms of yesteryear.

While the best offerings might have been Goodnight Sweetheart and Young Hyacinth, the two shows that actually attracted the biggest audiences were Are You Being Served? and Porridge.

The department store comedy pulled in 6.3 million, while the prison-based sitcom attracted an audience of 5.4 million.

ITV’s eight-part period drama Victoria, detailing the early years of the second-longest reigning monarch in British history, got off to a very strong start in August.

Filling the void left by Downton Abbey, the regal drama starring ex-Doctor Who star Jenna Coleman in the title role was watched by 7.5 million viewers.

Meanwhile, although not quite able to reach the same ratings heights of London 2012, the BBC’s coverage of the Rio Olympics dominated this month’s top programmes list.

At the top of the pile was the much delayed Men’s Keirin final, which didn’t take place until after 11pm UK time. The race saw Britain’s Jason Kenny win his third gold medal of Rio 2016 – his sixth gold overall – and was watched by 8.6 million viewers.

Max Whitlock’s double gold success within an hour in the Men’s Floor Gymnastics grabbed the second-best Olympics rating with just under 8.2 million viewers.

Elsewhere Jack Laugher and Chris Mears’ historic gold medal winning performance in the Men’s 3m Synchronised Diving Final attracted an average audience of almost 6.2 million.

The first ever Olympic gold for rugby won by Australia in Women’s Rugby 7’s was watched by an average 5.5 million viewers.

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