The Bill suffers in new slot as ratings fall below 3 million

The little published move of cancelled police-drama The Bill to Tuesday nights meant that less than 3 million viewers tuned in last night. Elsewhere BBC One soap EastEnders was the most watched programme of the day with over 8 million viewers.

 

 

 

The little published move of cancelled police-drama The Bill to Tuesday nights meant that less than 3 million viewers tuned in last night. ITV in their wisdom decided to move The Bill from Thursdays to Tuesday evenings for the rest of the drama’s run but have not advertised the fact to angry fans of the series. So its hardly surprising that last night’s first episode in its new slot was seen by just 2.8 million viewers – 700,000 viewers less than last Thursday’s episode which had 3.5 million viewers. It was beaten by Channel Four’s combined audience for Heston’s Fairytale Feast which had 2.7 million viewers at 9pm but 400,000 viewers watched the time-shift channel pushing the overall figure comfortably ahead of that for The Bill. Also at 9pm BBC Two’s documentary on Great Ormond Street saw a slight rise in ratings as 2.5 million tuned in.

 

BBC One’s Panorama special on Alder Hey hospital at 9pm had 3.6 million viewers in an otherwise lacklustre 9pm ratings round-up. Soap wise EastEnders was the most watched soap, and indeed programme, of Tuesday evening with over 8 million viewers. Although the figure is below that of recent episodes the 8.5 million rating was enough to win victory for the BBC One soap. At 10pm 770,000 viewers tuned in for the repeat as Amira turned to Christian for advice about her marriage to Syed unaware of the affair between the two men. The figure for BBC Three pushes the overall rating for last night episode past the 9 million mark. At 7pm Emmerdale had 6.5 million viewers as Olena was detained and Hollyoaks had 1.1 million for Channel Four at 6.30. Earlier in the day medical drama Doctors had 1.4 million viewers for BBC One at 1.45pm.