TV viewing round-up: May 2015

The more things change the more they stay the same, especially when it comes to finding an act for the Royal Variety Performance.

Following in the footsteps (paw prints?) of 2012 winners Ashley and Pudsey, this year’s Britain’s Got Talent winner was yet another dog act Matisse (with handler Jules O’Dwyer).

Before all the subsequent controversy surrounding Matisse erupted, the final managed to bring in the highest ratings of any programme this year (12.4 million).

Sheridan Smith continued her ascent towards acting sainthood with another well-received turn in BBC One’s The C-Word.

Based on the real life story of Lisa Lynch who passed away from cancer at 33, the one-off drama was watched by just under 5 million viewers.

ITV’s latest Sunday night drama attempting to fill the void left by Heartbeat, Homes Fires, got off to a strong start this month.

Focusing on the day to day lives of Women’s Institute members in a Cheshire town, the World War II drama launched with 6.2 million viewers.

BBC One’s seven-part adaptation of Susanna Clarke’s novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell initially attracted a big audience rating.

Starring Eddie Marsan and Bertie Carvel as the title characters, the opening episode pulled in 5.6 million people. Where they disappeared to after that is a mystery, as subsequent episodes have attracted half that total.

Other programmes that did well this month include: Peter Kay’s Car Share (6.3 million); Safe House (5.9 million); British Academy Television Awards (5.4 million); Ninja Warrior (4.9 million); and the annual kitsch-fest that is Eurovision Song Contest (6.8 million).

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