Strong return for Gavin and Stacey

The return of comedy Gavin and Stacey on BBC One last night for its third and final series proved to be a hit with audiences. Meanwhile in a rare event EastEnders clashed with both Emmerdale and Coronation Street in an hour long edition after ITV shifted its soaps around the schedule.

 

BBCGavin and Stacey proved to be a hit with audiences last night as the comedy series returned for its third and final series on BBC One. Overnight rating figures reveal that an average of 5.7 million viewers tuned in. Although lower than the 6.7 million who tuned in for the 2008 Christmas Special, which also aired on BBC One, the figure is still a strong figure for the comedy. The first two seasons originally aired on BBC Three before the popularity of it saw promotion to BBC One for the Christmas Special and the new series.

Elsewhere the clash between EastEnders and Emmerdale was a close run thing. Overnight figures reveal than an hour-long edition of Emmerdale pulled in 6.6 million viewers while EastEnders, also an hour long, was aksik seen by 6.6 million – but closer inspection of the ratings reveal that the Yorkshire soap was ever so slightly ahead by roughly 20 thousand viewers. However, the BBC Three repeat was seen by 1.3 million viewers which puts the overall figure for the episode ahead of Emmerdale. The two soaps clashed because ITV aired Emmerdale in an hour block rather than two half hour blocks, separated by another programme, because of I’m A Celeb. Coronation Street was only slightly ahead of its fellow soaps with 6.8 million viewers – it too clashed with EastEnders for half an hour. The ITV soap usually airs at 8.30 on Thursdays but was moved forward to 8.00 meaning a clash with the BBC One soap – a rare occurrence.

The fact that both Emmerdale and Coronation Street clashed with EastEnders won’t have gone unnoticed by fans who will be angry over the clash. Had ITV not shifted the soaps around in its schedules neither clash would have taken place.