Series 2 concluded with all 9.8 million watching, after 2.5 million caught up

Vengeance, addiction, back-stabbing and incarceration – TV probed the depths of the human condition this week, albeit with some very different treatments.

Doctor Foster outdid its first series with a finale that swung between suicide and salvation, while Louis Theroux’s meetings with heroin users resulted in a powerful doc.

The Apprentice might not score 110% for loyalty, but viewers still want their fix of boardroom bollockings. After all this, we needed a laugh – and Porridge duly provided.

BBC1: DOCTOR FOSTER

Viewers and critics were divided, but there’s no doubt that Doctor Foster’s finale had us in its grip at 9pm on 3 October – all 9.8 million/40% of us, after 2.5 million caught up.

It didn’t hit the heights of series one’s finale (10.1 million/37% on 7 October 2015), but as a whole series two was on top, with a consolidated average of 8.9 million/35% vs series one’s 8.2 million/31%. Add in more than 9 million iPlayer requests in September and the temptation will be strong to sign everyone up for more.

BBC2: LOUIS THEROUX: DARK STATES

Louis theroux

The first of Louis Theroux’s batch of three US dispatches, which aired on BBC2 at 9pm on 8 October, attracted 3.1 million/12% after 880,000 caught up.

Outside of last year’s Savile one-off, which pulled in 3.7 million/14%, this is the documentary-maker’s best performance since the first of his Miami Mega-Jail two-parter attracted 3.4 million/13% on 22 May 2011.

BBC1: THE APPRENTICE

After 1.8 million watched via PVR and catch-up, the return of BBC1’s The Apprentice at 9pm on 4 October consolidated to 6.5 million/25%.

A respectable performance, and ahead of the slot’s 18% average share, but still a dip from 2016’s 7.4 million/27%. Its overnights built for episode two, so ratings could yet grow once viewers get invested in the latest batch of recruits.

BBC1: PORRIDGE

Prison sitcom Porridge was one of several classics revived for BBC1’s comedy season last year, when an audience of 5.4 million/22% at 9.30pm on Sunday 28 August encouraged the broadcaster that it had legs.

Launching into the same time slot, though on a Friday, episode one consolidated to 3.7 million/16% on 6 October with a box-set iPlayer release set to build on that.

Consolidated ratings - 2-8 October
 TitleDayViewers (m) (all homes)Share (%)Gain (m)Gain (%)Broadcaster
1 THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF Tue 8.61 33.35 2.51 41.10 C4
2 DOCTOR FOSTER Tue 9.78 39.81 2.46 33.70 BBC1
3 LIAR Mon 8.29 34.06 2.26 37.50 ITV
4 THE APPRENTICE Wed 6.49 24.79 1.84 39.50 BBC1
5 VICTORIA Sun 6.47 25.00 1.66 34.60 ITV
6 COLD FEET Fri 4.76 20.17 1.55 48.10 ITV
7 DOC MARTIN Wed 6.58 24.77 1.36 26.00 ITV
8 STRICTLY COME DANCING Sat 11.15 49.46 1.33 13.50 BBC1
9 CORONATION STREET Fri 7.57 33.27 1.15 17.90 ITV
10 EASTENDERS Fri 6.47 30.85 1.03 18.80 BBC1
11 THE X FACTOR Sat 6.09 26.92 1.00 19.70 ITV
11 CORONATION STREET Wed 7.28 31.76 1.00 15.90 ITV
13 THE LAST POST Sun 4.84 18.95 0.98 25.30 BBC1
14 CASUALTY Sat 5.57 25.79 0.94 20.40 BBC1
15 THE X FACTOR Sun 7.20 28.35 0.92 14.70 ITV
15 HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU Fri 5.18 21.86 0.92 21.50 BBC1
17 CORONATION STREET Fri 7.81 38.72 0.90 12.90 ITV
18 LOUIS THEROUX: DARK STATES Sun 3.11 12.24 0.88 39.40 BBC2
19 PORRIDGE Fri 3.65 16.17 0.84 30.20 BBC1
19 CORONATION STREET Mon 8.22 36.03 0.84 11.30 ITV
21 EASTENDERS Tue 6.57 32.47 0.82 14.20 BBC1
22 EASTENDERS Mon 6.70 29.90 0.81 13.80 BBC1
23 AMBULANCE Thu 4.28 18.27 0.78 22.20 BBC1
24 CORONATION STREET Wed 7.82 39.19 0.76 10.80 ITV
25 FIRST DATES Mon 1.97 11.83 0.72 57.40 C4
25 EASTENDERS Thu 6.48 31.66 0.72 12.40 BBC1
27 WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? Wed 4.31 20.05 0.70 19.50 BBC1
27 GOGGLEBOX Fri 3.26 13.88 0.70 27.50 C4
27 THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW Fri 3.38 25.83 0.70 26.10 BBC1
30 EMMERDALE Fri 7.09 37.32 0.68 10.70 ITV

Topics