60s drama re-commissioned

Sunday night favorite, The Royal, has been given a further episode order by ITV. The medical drama, set in the 1960s, has had 12 more episodes commissioned by ITV. Two of these episodes will see filming shift to Ireland. The Royal has become a firm favourite with Sunday night audiences since its launch several years ago, along with parent show Heartbeat, it dominates Sunday night ratings.

The same can hardly be said for its modern day spin-off, The Royal Today, which limped through its extended day-time run earlier in the year. The daytime medical series, set in the modern day, has yet to be recommissioned and was criticised for using the Royal brand name to cash in on the franchise and try and get itself a ready made audience. Despite launching with two million viewers The Royal Today didn’t maintain these impressive figures and soon figures dropped to the million mark – and below.

Several new episodes of The Royal are due to be shown in June when Heartbeat ends its current run.