ITV crime drama Arthur & George down -42% after one week

Monday night saw ITV’s latest novelty crime drama reach the half way point of its very short run, with the second episode of its heavily Sherlock-influenced historical mystery taking quite a knock, week on week.

After coming together so spectacularly just last week, yesterday saw Arthur & George (9pm) continue their passionate love affair for period sleuthing as Martin Clune’s Arthur Conan Doyle continued to defend his new BFF, George Edalji (Arsher Ali), from old fashioned Edwardian racism as well as being framed as a demented botherer of horses.

Last week 5.3 million viewers tuned in for the opening episode which stretched real-life events pass the point of credibility and into the realm of easy evening viewing. Perhaps last night’s competition was a little too stiff but the promising debut was all but forgotten as the series took a noticeable tumble.

3.1 million viewers, representing a -42% drop, tuned in to see Arthur’s previous favourite man-mate, Alfred ‘Woodie’ Wood, get brushed aside for George’s cause, causing all kinds of animosity for the Sherlock author.

One week on and the investigative adventure netted just a 13% share and failed to win the 9pm slot from BBC One.

Nearly all of BBC One’s evening schedule was dedicated to the FA Cup quarter final clash between Manchester United and Arsenal, with MOTD Live getting underway from 7:30pm. The game, live from Old Trafford, saw the away team defeat their hosts with a 2-1 victory and easily secured the biggest prime time audience.

7.3 million viewers tuned in for the three hour coverage and locked in the biggest share shortly after the broadcast began, resulting in an average share of 31% for the whole event. The game actually peaked at 8.4 million around 9:30pm as the game came to a close.

On BBC Two, it was time for the last edition of A Cook Abroad (9pm), this time sending Rachel Khoo to explore Malaysia’s culinary treats. 1.1 million joined The Little Paris Kitchen star on her yummy travels, resulting in a 5% share.

The gastronomic delights were a lot more frugal over on Channel 5, with the latest in a never-ending tirade of Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole (9pm) securing 1.4 million viewers and a 6% share.

There was more talk of money over on Channel 4 with The Billion Pound Hotel (9pm) proving that a vulgar amount of money can buy you anything in lovely Dubai, with 2.1 million viewers and a 9% share checking in for a glimpse at the planet’s wealthiest customers.

The billions didn’t stop there as straight up afterwards was the third and concluding part of worrying interactive documentary NHS: £2billion a Week & Counting (10pm). 752,000 viewers tuned in to be reminded that there just isn’t enough money for the country’s health system to function, securing a 5% share.

Hidden away in the digital abyss of BBC Three was the very final episode of Grange Hill with an actual budget, Waterloo Road (8:30pm). After being banished from the main channel earlier this year, the once popular show eventually went out with a whimper, resulting in 573,000 viewers and a 2% share.

A repeat on BBC One at 11:15pm secured a further 691,000 viewers and an 11% share, proving that despite the late airing, the corporation’s flagship channel still had more pull than the earlier prime time offering on the digital channel BBC Three.

The last ever school bell to sound out through the troubled halls also helped Waterloo Road top the TV Twitter chart.

Earlier in soapland, boozy mummy Laurel accidentally got her toddler all happy on vodka on Emmerdale (ITV) at 7pm. An audience of 6.2 million viewers and a 31% share watched the inevitable dash to the hospital.

The build up to Gail’s latest marriage on Coronation Street was the biggest hit of the day at 7:30pm, with 7.2 million viewers and a 33% share tuning in.

Sandwiched in between was More Tales from Northumberland with Robson Green (ITV, 8pm) which secured 3.7 million and a 16% share before Coronation Street returned with a deflated audience of 6 million viewers and a 25% share.

Overnight data is available each morning in mediatel.co.uk’s TV Database, with all BARB registered subscribers able to view reports for terrestrial networks and key multi-channel stations. Overnight data supplied by TRP are based on 15 minute slot averages. This may differ from tape checked figures, which are based on a programme’s actual start and end time.

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