The Fall is a hit for BBC Two

The Fall became BBC Two’s biggest drama series launch in eight years on Monday night..

The series won its slot and opened with an average audience of 3.5M and 15.4% share, peaking at 3.6M, making it the highest drama series launch on the channel since Rome in 2005. It also beat the BBC Two slot average of 1.79m (7.4%) for the past 12 months.

Janice Hadlow, Controller, BBC Two, says: “I’m delighted to see The Fall do so brilliantly – I hope the audience will keep coming back to follow the twists and turns to come.”

Starring Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan, The Fall is described as a gripping psychological thriller that forensically examines the lives of two hunters. One is a serial killer who stalks his victims at random in and around Belfast and the other is a talented female Detective Superintendent on secondment from the MET who is brought in to catch him.

BBC Head of Drama Northern Ireland, Stephen Wright, says: “I am thrilled with the audience’s response to episode one of The Fall and delighted for Allan Cubitt who created the show. It is a testament to the talent and dedication of the cast and crew in Belfast where Line Of Duty, series two is currently shooting.”

The series was commissioned by Janice Hadlow, Controller, BBC Two and Ben Stephenson, Controller of Drama Commissioning, and is executive produced by Stephen Wright through BBC Northern Ireland.

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama, adds: “In a week that has seen BBC Drama enjoy record success at the BAFTAs, winning 7 out of 8 awards, it’s particularly gratifying to see the audience reaction to the launch of BBC Two’s new original British drama The Fall – an outstandingly imagined piece of series television.”