New Tricks continues to boost BBC One's ratings with 8.4m

by Nikki Sandison, Brand Republic 05-Aug-08, 11:00

LONDON - BBC One's detective drama 'New Tricks' is still going strong with the fifth episode in the series pulling in 8.4m viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures.

Last night's episode, starring Dennis Waterman and Amanda Redman, featured a light-hearted plot about a man who died by falling into a vat of real ale.

It netted a 35.6% share of the 9pm-10pm audience to win the primetime slot for BBC One.

The third episode of BBC Two's 'Dragon's Den', featuring hopefuls pitching soft toys based on roadkill animals, eco computers and a high-wire adventure park, came in second with 3.4m viewers and a 14.6% share.

It beat the final part of ITV's 'Police, Camera, Action' documentary which attracted 3.1m and a 13% share.

Last night's fifth and final episode, called 'Car Tech Maniacs', saw Alastair Stewart taking a look at the in-car gadgets that distract drivers and the new tools the police are using to detect dangerous drivers.

The final part of Channel 4's 'Can't Read, Can't Write' documentary, following the journey of nine illiterate adults learning to read and write, drew 1.2m viewers and a 5% share of the 9pm-10pm audience.

Earlier in the evening, the first part of Channel 4's new documentary series 'The Genius of Charles Darwin' attracted 1.4m viewers and a 6.7% share of the 8pm-9pm audience. Including Channel 4+1 ratings it managed 1.5m and a 7% share.

Five's repeat of 'Greatest TV Comedy Moments', featuring Richard Wilson counting down the top 50 greatest comedy moments on TV, pulled in 943,000 viewers and a 4.8% share of the 9pm-11pm audience.

'Big Brother' attracted 3.1m viewers on Channel 4 and a 17.1% share of the 10pm-11pm audience. Including Channel 4+1 ratings it managed 3.2m and an 18% share.

Comments

Keith Geddes - 05/08/2008

While nine pm seems to be the be all time prog wise... can time shift , but, companies will clash to see who comes out on top, however the figures are compiled. Of course New Tricks wiped the board, people now know its one of the few really good comedy/dramas on tv. If everything was made to such a standard the licence would be worth paying. Maybe. How much of it does the BBC actually get?