Miranda Ends With 7 Million Viewers

The third series of Miranda Hart’s self-titled concluded last night with 7 million viewers.

The comedy finished its successful run on BBC One with 7 million viewers according to overnight figures. As yet there is no news of a fourth run but fans remain hopeful that Hart will further episodes. Following Miranda at 9.30pm on BBC One was Irish comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys which rated slightly higher than its companion with 7.1 million viewers.

The pairing up of Mrs Brown’s Boys and Miranda on Mondays at 9pm has proved to be ratings gold for BBC One. However, reports suggest the next series of Mrs Brown’s Boys may not air until 2014 due to commitments of Brendan O’Carroll. A movie version of the comedy is said to be in the works as well as a prime-time panel show and another UK stage tour.

At 9pm on ITV detective drama Lewis starring Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox mustered 6.1 million viewers. Masterchef: The Professionals on BBC Two meanwhile had 1.7 million viewers.

In daytime Jimmy McGovern’s anthology series Moving On returned for its fourth season on BBC One. The first play, The Shrine, featured Matthew Kelly, Barbara Flynn and Sally Carman; it was seen by 1.4 million viewers at 2.15pm. Prior to the return of Moving On long-running medical soap Doctors pulled in 1.8 million viewers at 1.45pm.

Airing against Doctors and Moving On on ITV was Dickinson’s Real Deal at 2pm with 1.2 million viewers followed by afternoon chat-show The Alan Titchmarsh Show with 1 million viewers.

Popular tea-time quiz-shows The Chase and Pointless continued to rate well for their respective broadcasters. The Chase, which has been renewed for 300 + new editions, pulled in 3.5 million viewers between 5pm and 6pm.  BBC One rival Pointless, also recently renewed, was ahead slightly with 3.7 million viewers between 5.15pm and 6pm.

Elsewhere in the daytime schedules Channel 4’s veteran quiz-show Countdown continued to struggle in its new slot of 2.40pm with just 440,000 viewers. The broadcaster has denied it has any plans to axe the series. Following Countdown at 3.30pm was Face the Clock which was seen by just 323,000 viewers.

However, ratings shot up at 4pm for Channel 4 as Noel Edmonds fronted series Deal or No Deal had 1.1 million viewers followed at 5pm by Four in a Bed with 1.2 million viewers. Come Dine With Me at 5.30pm was seen by 1.3 million viewers.

Moving On airs this week at 2.15pm on BBC One.