Finale of Drag Race UK vs The World delivers 371,000 as returning channel beds in

As BBC3 feels its way back into the linear world, it will miss its drag queens as this week’s grand finale to crown the ‘Queen of the Mothertucking World’ romped away with the channel’s best numbers.

BBC3’s highest rating show in its new linear schedule remains Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK vs The World. On Tuesday at 9pm this week, it picked up 331,000/2.1% – the second best 9pm episode so far behind 1 February’s launch night with 351,000/2.5%. It totalled 373,000 including four repeats and 116,000 for 1634s, effectively all of which came from 9pm’s transmission (which also represented a 9% share).

BBC3’s next best rating came from Masterchef Australia on Friday 11 March with 86,000/0.6% (but only just 3,000/0.2% for 16-34s). The show’s best for the age bracket remains Monday 21 February’s series opener (47,000/1.4%).

Meanwhile E4’s continues to feel the warm afterglow of its Down Under weddings.

The channel’s best of the week was Thursday’s episode of Married at First Sight Australia (703,000/4.4%) at 7.30pm – the best of this run, which began on 21 February. Its 189,000/13% for 16-34s was by some distance this series’ best, ahead of Tuesday’s 133,000/9% in second place.

Top 30 multichannel programmes - 7 - 16 March
 TitleDayStartViewers (millions)Share (%)Channel
1 VERA Thu 20.00 0.87 5.32 ITV3
1 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Tue 19.00 0.87 5.77 BT Sport 2
3 PREMIER LEAGUE Sat 17.00 0.86 5.82 Sky Sports Main Event
4 MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT Thu 19.30 0.70 4.41 E4
5 FA CUP Mon 18.45 0.60 3.78 ITV4
6 SISTER BONIFACE MYSTERIES Fri 21.00 0.58 3.44 Drama
7 DIGGING FOR BRITAIN Wed 21.00 0.50 3.25 BBC4
8 BBC NEWS Tue 16.00 0.49 5.30 BBC News
9 QI XL Thu 21.00 0.48 2.86 Dave
10 MIDSOMER MURDERS Sun 18.00 0.46 3.11 ITV3
11 LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE Wed 19.20 0.45 2.86 Drama
12 HEARTBEAT Wed 19.00 0.42 2.77 ITV3
12 NEWS HOUR WITH MARK AUSTIN Tue 17.00 0.42 3.77 Sky News
14 SPORTSDAY Sun 18.30 0.40 2.86 BBC News
15 BBC NEWS AT SIX Tue 18.00 0.39 2.74 BBC News
16 BRITAIN’S LOST MASTERPIECES Mon 20.00 0.37 2.23 BBC4
16 DOC MARTIN Fri 21.00 0.37 2.23 ITV3
18 MAIGRET Wed 20.00 0.36 2.32 ITV3
18 QI Wed 21.00 0.36 2.35 Dave
18 YES, PRIME MINISTER Tue 20.30 0.36 2.23 BBC4
21 THE LAKES WITH PAUL ROSE Tue 19.00 0.35 2.47 BBC4
21 FRED DIBNAH’S WORLD OF STEAM, STEEL AND STONE Tue 19.30 0.35 2.19 BBC4
21 THE PROPOSAL Sun 18.45 0.35 2.27 ITV2
24 GREAT BARRIER REEF Wed 20.00 0.34 2.11 BBC4
24 GORDON, GINO AND FRED: ROAD TRIP Thu 21.00 0.34 2.00 ITV2
24 HOLLYOAKS Thu 19.00 0.34 2.38 E4
24 WOULD I LIE TO YOU? Thu 20.20 0.34 2.11 Dave
28 THE REAL DIRTY DANCING Tue 21.00 0.33 2.12 E4
28 GOGGLEBOX Sat 22.00 0.33 3.31 E4
28 LONG LOST FAMILY Sun 20.00 0.33 2.11 ITV3

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