Ant and Dec shows bring in the ratings to ITV

Viewers are loving the ITV1 and STV content…

ITV dominated mass live viewing this past weekend across Entertainment, Sports and Drama, the broadcaster has announced.

The rating success included the 17th series launch of Britain’s Got Talent on both Saturday and Sunday evenings watched by 12 million across the weekend; The FA Cup semi-final on Sunday afternoon, peaked with 7.1m viewers making it ITV1’s/STV’s second highest overnight this year after the quarter-final match last month; plus brand new and exclusive drama launch Red Eye on Sunday evening. And across the sixteen Saturday nights in 2024 so far, ITV has won eleven including this weekend.

Made by Thames Television, more than 12 million people tuned into the first two launch episodes of Britain’s Got Talent this weekend. Episode one peaked with 5.8 million viewers (5m ave.) with a 39% share and has already consolidated up to 6.2m. With episode two peaking at 5.2m (4.5m ave.) and a 32% share. 16-34 viewing across both episodes is strong with the first episode attracting a 49% share and in one day consolidating to 732k, plus 547k peak (442k ave.) and a 45% share for episode two.

Pictured: Ant & Dec and Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell, Bruno Tonioli.

For sport, The FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Coventry peaked with 7.1m (ave. 4.4m) and a 41% share, which is ITV’s second highest overnight this year after the quarter-final match on 17th March.

And for drama, Red Eye with Jing Lusi and Richard Armitage launched with a peak of 4.1m (ave. 3.7m). Based on overnights alone this makes it ITV’s third biggest drama this year after Mr Bates vs The Post Office and Vera.

Plus Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway final has also currently consolidated to 5.9m, up on last year’s final, with the series winning its time slot every weekend bar one – Channel 4 were showing the England v Brazil match at that time.