TV ratings - January 18: Vera death watched by 12.4 million (original) (raw)

The death of Vera Duckworth drew 12.4 million viewers to ITV1's Coronation Street on Friday January 18, according to unofficial overnight ratings.

A massive 51% of the audience tuned in at 7.30pm as the soap legend - played by Liz Dawn - passed away in her armchair.

A second instalment of Coronation Street at 8.30pm was watched by 11.6 million and 46% of the audience.

The soaps dominated Friday night's ratings between 7pm and 9pm, starting with ITV1's Emmerdale, which drew 8.5 million and 39% at 7pm.

BBC1's EastEnders had 9.9 million and 40% at 8pm, between the Coronation Street episodes.

On ITV1 in the same slot Saving Ed Mitchell, a documentary about an alcoholic ex-ITN journalist drew 4.7 million and 19%.

BBC1's wildlife show The Elephant Diaries attracted 3.8 million and 16% at 7.30pm, while Jennifer Saunders' sitcom Jam & Jerusalem drew 2.8 million and 11% at 8.30pm.

BBC2's 8pm offering, a Natural World documentary about Dartmoor, drew 2 million and 8% over 50 minutes, ahead of Channel 4's A Place in the Sun, which had 1.4 million and 6% over an hour.

Later in the evening, Gordon Ramsay's live Cookalong served up 4.2 million viewers for Channel 4 between 9pm and 10pm.

An 18% share of the audience watched the celebrity chef's hour-long demonstration of how to make a three-course meal of scallops, steak and chocolate mousse.

It eclipsed ITV1's struggling twin shows Moving Wallpaper and Echo Beach in the 9pm slot, but lost out to BBC1's old codgers' drama New Tricks.

The BBC1 show kept up last week's respectable ratings of 4.6 million and a 19% share.

Moving Wallpaper and Echo Beach fell to their lowest ratings yet.

The behind-the-scenes comedy, Moving Wallpaper, was watched by 3.5 million and a 15% share at 9pm, down 300,000 on last week and 1.5 million on its debut.

Echo Beach, a Cornwall-based soap starring Jason Donovan and Martine McCutcheon, did even worse, dropping 1 million viewers to post just 2.8 million and a 12% share from 9.30pm to 10pm.

Channel Five's US drama import NCIS had 2.2 million viewers and a 9% share, while BBC2 trailed in last place with 1.7 million viewers and a 7% share for religious travel show Extreme Pilgrim.

The 10 O'Clock News on BBC1 secured 5.1 million viewers and a 24% share, easily enough to win the slot.

ITV1 secured 2.5 million viewers and 13% with Al Murray's Happy Hour at 10pm.

BBC2 quiz show QI picked up 2.3 million and an 11% share over 30 minutes, while a live performance by comedian Jack Dee drew 1.2 million and 7% to Channel 4 between 10pm and 11.10pm.

BBC1 also led the way after the news with Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. The chatshow, which featured veteran naturalist David Attenborough and ex-Beatle Ringo Starr averaged 4.4 million and 27% between 10.35pm and 11.35pm.

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