Interest in BBC2's Olympics coverage showed no signs of diminishing, despite the lack of British medals, with a peak of 5.5 million (24.2%) at 10pm during the diving.
Interest in BBC2's Olympics coverage showed no signs of diminishing, despite the lack of British medals, with a peak of 5.5 million (24.2%) at 10pm during the diving.

The decision to turnover BBC2's entire peaktime schedule to coverage of the Olympics proved to be a wise move as the entire programme from 6pm averaged 3.4 million (16.1%). Just over double its peaktime share for the previous Monday when it achieved a share of 8%

Both Channel 4 and Five struggled to compete. The opening part of C4's Whicker's War , which saw the return of veteran presenter Alan Whicker, gained 1.7 million (7.3%) at 9pm while the following Without a Trace at 10pm gained 1.9 million (10.2%). Earlier at 8pm, Lost Buildings of Britain took 1.2 million (5.2%).

Five's film Hot Shots! from 1991 was the channel's most popular attraction of the evening with 1.4 million (6.2%) at 9pm. A repeat of Ultimate Trains at 8pm got just 900,000 (4.1%).

The peaktime spoils though went to ITV1 though as both helpings of Coronation Street gained over 10 million viewers each. The episode at 7.30pm gained 10.3 million (50.3%) while the one an hour later drew 10.1 million (43%). Emmerdale also brought in the viewers at 7pm with 7.9 million (42.2%).

BBC1 though fought back with EastEnders appealing to 9.6 million (43.3%) at 8pm and the conclusion of the Shadowplay storyline in Waking the Dead at 9pm picked up 7.9 million (33.1%). The corporation's news bulletin at 10pm, which led with flash flooding in Cornwall, also took a sizeable 6.6 million (30.8%).

Out of peaktime, the fifth series of the critically acclaimed US drama The Sopranos managed 900,000 (10.1%).

Peaktime shares for Monday 16 August: ITV1 - 29.1%, BBC1 - 26.9%, BBC2 - 16.1%, C4 - 6.1%, Five - 4.5%.

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