TV Viewing Summary W/E 12/10/97

Television’s leading drama, Heartbeat has increased its audience yet again this week, (16.33 million compared to last week’s 15.29 million). Despite dropping from its previously well worn position of second place to third, the drama shows no signs of losing the momentum already gained. At the other end of the scale, the new Catherine Cookson drama is already losing viewers week on week. This episode was watched by an audience of 8.89 million (the previous episode attracted 9.30 million), leaving the field very much in the hands of the ’emergency dramas’, Casualty attracted an audience of 11.65 million, with London’s Burning attracting 12.76 million.

Coronation Street keeps Eastenders firmly in its place, with the London soap’s three episodes all, yet again, pushed out of the top five. Coronation Street was watched by an average audience of 16.61 million, compared to an average of 14.38 million viewers for Eastenders.

The ever popular ‘an audience with‘ series battles on, with Freddie Starr making a ‘welcome’ return following the success of his performance last year. Mr Starr indeed seems to be setting a precedent, by being the only ‘performer’ to be called back for a second shot, performing his well scripted show in front of a well scripted ‘celebrity’ audience. Makes you wonder how the selectors for this show can be so cavalier in their approach. In fact, the introduction of this new policy is quite worrying, especially seeing as Ronnie Corbett is up to bat next……

Channel 4 remains the most predictable of all the charts, with Friends still at number one. The show has increased its audience size again week on week, this time watched by 6.04 million. Channel 5 scores another week with audience figures not only into seven figures, but indeed above the two million mark. It looks like the station is beginning to realise the areas where it certainly can attract an audience, and is now going to hold on to them. In short, this means football and the Sweeney……… what more can a man want??

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