Ratings: BBC4 hits the right buttons
- Published: 27 November 2008 08:22
- Author: Jon Rogers
- More by this Author
- Last Updated: 27 November 2008 10:37
- Reader Responses
BBC 4's incoming controller Richard Klein will be encouraged by the channel's recent performance as Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe attracted its highest ever audience last week.
The new series of the acerbic half-hour TV-review show, which invariably sees The Guardian columnist slate a variety of programmes, averaged 235,000 viewers/1.7% share in its new, later slot of 10.30pm on Tuesday.
The show managed a high of 248,000/2%, helping to double BBC4's slot average for the year of 113,000/0.8%. Screenwipe's second best performance was on 10 October 2007 at 10pm when it
attracted 230,000/1.5%.
BBC4's most popular offering this year has been its drama at 9pm on 19 March, The Curse of Steptoe and Son, with 1.4 million/7%. However, the BBC will not repeat the show in its current format, following complaints from Harry H Corbett's family.
The channel scored a surprise hit with its recent strand on the UK's railways. Ian Hislop Goes Off the Rails attracted 1.3 million/6.7% on 2 October, at 9pm. Railway Walks gained 779,000/3.9% on 9 October at 8.30pm. From 7pm to midnight BBC4 has gained a share of 0.9% so far this year, up 16.7% on the same period last year.
