BBC One scores record-breaking Q1 performance in 2015 and announces recommission of Poldark

It's been an outstanding start to the year for programme-makers on the channel and their ambition has been in evidence throughout. I’ve been proud to watch a BBC One at the top of its game, bursting with creativity and modernity, which has brought the nation together and sparked the national conversation.Charlotte Moore, Controller, BBC One
Date: 08.04.2015     Last updated: 08.04.2015 at 14.35
Category: BBC One; Commissioning; Drama
Final consolidated data just released reveals that BBC One has had its best start to the year in a decade.

In Q1 (1 Jan to 31 March) BBC One took the highest share in a decade (since 2005) in all hours and in peak, with a 23.3 per cent share in all hours and 25.2 per cent in peak.

Since January, BBC One has brought the nation together for unmissable programmes and extraordinary live events. From EastEnders live week to mark the 30th Anniversary to the return of the FA Cup on the channel; plus Comic Relief, The Voice UK, Still Open All Hours and the Six Nations - all of these shows have contributed to BBC One’s strong start to the year.

BBC One’s returning drama series have been on exceptional form: Last Tango In Halifax, Silent Witness and Death In Paradise have all been their most successful series ever to date; while Call the Midwife is the most watched drama series of the year so far across all channels. This quarter also saw BBC One successfully launch new factual titles Eat Well For Less and the ‘Truth About…’ strand. While Poldark has been BBC One’s new Sunday night hit series, which has just been commissioned for a second series.

Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One, says: “It's been an outstanding start to the year for programme-makers on the channel and their ambition has been in evidence throughout. I’ve been proud to watch a BBC One at the top of its game, bursting with creativity and modernity, which has brought the nation together and sparked the national conversation.

"I want to make sure viewers feel BBC One is part of their lives and that’s about making sure there is something on BBC One for everybody. We aim to maintain that momentum and continue to move with the times and bring audiences a range of distinctive, high-quality programmes that feel relevant and reflect the diversity of modern Britain. It’s exciting to see BBC One being recognised today as the most nominated channel in this year’s BAFTA TV Awards. I can also exclusively announce that Sunday’s night new phenomenon Poldark that has captured the nations’ hearts has been commissioned for a second series. Aidan Turner will return as Ross Poldark and Eleanor Tomlinson as Demelza in a new eight-part series written by Debbie Horsfield that will cover books three and four of Winston Graham’s series.”

Notes to Editors

  • Poldark’s consolidated series average so far is 8.1 million
  • EastEnders 30th Anniversary broke records across the board and saw the highest viewing figures in over four years. It became the only programme to achieve 10 million viewers (overnights) in 2015 so far, and was watched by over 20 million people (35 per cent of UK the population) across the week
  • BBC One’s returning drama consolidated series average audience in 2015: Call The Midwife averaged 10.349 million; Death In Paradise averaged 8.604 million; Silent Witness averaged 8.293 million and Last Tango In Halifax averaged 7.424 million
  • Still Open All Hours is the highest rating comedy series so far this year, with an average of 7.5 million

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