The “Best of British” is one of my more popular posts.
I list the year’s highest-rated unscripted programs, usually to honor UK producers in time for their PACT party at Realscreen.
For a different look at 2018, I combined the Documentary, Factual, Lifestyle & Current Affairs categories, showing the best single episode for series.
It’s not exactly chalk and cheese, but the data is highly informative.
I’m busy in Mexico City, so my Takeaways are brief. And excuse the lower case show titles. More to come…
TOP 10: SHARE
- The Harry / Meghan wedding earned a whopping 62.9 share of the audience that was actually watching TV at the time!
- In 2017, Blue Planet topped my list with 14 million viewers and a 45.8 share.
- Here is the UK Top 10 for 2018, measured by Share (Individuals 4+):
| Channel | Programme Title | Share | ‘000 | |
| 1 | BBC 1 | The royal wedding: harry & meghan | 62.9 | 8,916 |
| 2 | ITV | This morning (Oct 12) | 44.6 | 3,156 |
| 3 | BBC 1 | Queen’s Christmas message | 38.2 | 5,556 |
| 4 | CH4 | Great british bake off | 38.1 | 9,937 |
| 5 | BBC 1 | The apprentice | 32.6 | 7,296 |
| 6 | BBC 1 | Countryfile royal special: Windsor | 32.4 | 4,687 |
| 7 | BBC 1 | Dynasties | 31.3 | 8,060 |
| 8 | BBC 1 | Question time | 29.6 | 2,805 |
| 9 | BBC 1 | Bargain hunt | 28.5 | 2,769 |
| 10 | BBC 1 | Countryfile royal special: Sandringham | 28.4 | 4,908 |
AUDIENCE 2018: TOP 100 + TAKEAWAYS
Here is the 2018 #1-100, measured by Individuals 4+.
- Royals always find a way to dominate! (#2, 5, 7, 11, 13 in the Top 20 alone.)
- Natural History is strong, though lagging a bit versus versus previous years.
- Wildlife leaders are:
- Attenborough’s Dynasties (#3 / 8.1 Mn)
- Pets specialist Paul O’Grady’s Love of Dogs (#15 / 5.3 Mn).
- The BBC’s Blue Chip Spy in The Snow (#20 / 5.1 Mn) extends the “Spy” franchise.
- Attenborough scores again with Giant Sea Dragon (#25 / 4.9 Mn).
- With Netflix investing heavily in Super- Blue Chip projects, often led by BBC-trained creatives, the BBC faces a challenge to retain its dominating wildlife audience.
- The Great British Bake Off finale earns 10 Mn viewers, plus great #’s for Celebrity and Christmas spinoffs.
- Its audience is even more notable because C4 is not one of the two main channels.
- It makes me happy to see the BBC’s under-appreciated anchor franchises Countryfile and Antiques Roadshow consistently pull Top 10 rankings and spin off successful specials.
- The “Spinoff” deserves a separate Takeaway:
- The global video conversation has shifted to binge-able scripted series.
- Broadcasters and Cab / Sat channels must mine their strong franchises for compelling spinoffs that offer efficient development, production and promotion.
- The Anything-But-Royal History genre takes a knock: It’s a long way to # 43 for RAF at 100.
- The creative juice driving the imaginative Occu-soaps that marked recent decades seems to have run dry.
- Heathrow is at #34.
- It is followed closely by Ambulance which is well-regarded for its special access.
- Gogglebox slips from 5.5 Mn viewers in 2017 to 4.4 Mn.
- It’s been a while since British creatives came up with such an innovative hit format.
- The Science genre seems to need fresh vision: Wonders of the Moon leads at #40.
- The True Crime genre seems to lack the intense interest shown by U.S. video consumers.
- And note the strong showing for Current Affairs programs, reflecting our troubled times.
- Weight Loss is an expanding category as big personal health issues speak to viewers in the Lifestyle category.
- Hosted Travel and DIY are well represented, too.
- Final thought: I’m always very envious of the range and creative quality of British unscripted programs.
| Channel | Programme Title | ‘000 | Share | |
| 1 | CH4 | The great british bake off | 9,937 | 38.1 |
| 2 | BBC 1 | The royal wedding | 8,916 | 62.9 |
| 3 | BBC 1 | Dynasties/Attenborough | 8,060 | 31.3 |
| 4 | BBC 1 | The apprentice | 7,296 | 32.6 |
| 5 | BBC 1 | The coronation | 6,899 | 25.6 |
| 6 | BBC 1 | Countryfile | 6,492 | 26.7 |
| 7 | ITV | The queen’s green planet | 6,356 | 25.3 |
| 8 | ITV | The real full monty: ladies’ night | 6,327 | 28.1 |
| 9 | BBC 1 | Masterchef | 6,089 | 25.0 |
| 10 | BBC 1 | Antiques roadshow | 6,082 | 27.9 |
| 11 | BBC 1 | Prince, son and heir: charles at 70 | 5,996 | 26.0 |
| 12 | CH4 | Great celebrity bake off | 5,678 | 23.4 |
| 13 | BBC 1 | The queen’s christmas message | 5,556 | 38.2 |
| 14 | ITV | Gordon, gino and fred: road trip | 5,320 | 23.7 |
| 15 | ITV | Paul o’grady: for the love of dogs | 5,272 | 24.2 |
| 16 | BBC 1 | Antiques roadshow WW1 Special | 5,264 | 27.4 |
| 17 | ITV | The real full monty: live | 5,223 | 23.8 |
| 18 | BBC 1 | Who do you think u are? | 5,221 | 25.6 |
| 19 | BBC 1 | DIY SOS: the big build | 5,219 | 22.5 |
| 20 | BBC 1 | Spy in the Snow | 5,085 | 25.2 |
| 21 | BBC 1 | Big cats | 5,026 | 22.0 |
| 22 | BBC 1 | Celebrity masterchef | 4,965 | 24.4 |
| 23 | ITV | James bulger: a mother’s story | 4,932 | 19.5 |
| 24 | BBC 1 | Countryfile royal special: Sandringham | 4,908 | 28.4 |
| 25 | BBC 1 | David attenborough / giant sea dragon | 4,860 | 18.9 |
| 26 | BBC 1 | Countryfile royal special: balmoral | 4,827 | 26.1 |
| 27 | BBC 1 | The real marigold hotel | 4,801 | 23.3 |
| 28 | BBC 1 | The one show | 4,709 | 20.8 |
| 29 | BBC 1 | Countryfile royal special: windsor | 4,687 | 32.4 |
| 30 | BBC 1 | The truth /getting fit | 4,594 | 19.2 |
| 31 | ITV | Tonight | 4,585 | 19.5 |
| 32 | ITV | Britain’s busiest airport – Heathrow | 4,544 | 25.0 |
| 33 | CH4 | Gogglebox | 4,433 | 17.5 |
| 34 | BBC 1 | Ambulance | 4,398 | 20.5 |
| 35 | ITV | The martin lewis money show | 4,357 | 17.9 |
| 36 | BBC 1 | Fake or fortune? | 4,283 | 18.8 |
| 37 | BBC 1 | Diy sos: grenfell | 4,062 | 19.5 |
| 38 | ITV | Death row 2018 | 4,039 | 15.7 |
| 39 | ITV | Queen of the world | 4,033 | 19.6 |
| 40 | BBC 1 | Wonders of the Moon | 4,022 | 15.3 |
| 41 | BBC 1 | Animals with cameras | 4,021 | 18.7 |
| 42 | BBC 1 | Reported missing | 3,953 | 17.1 |
| 43 | BBC 1 | RAF at 100 | 3,925 | 16.5 |
| 44 | BBC 1 | Britain’s fat fight with hugh fearnley | 3,909 | 17.1 |
| 45 | ITV | The cruise: mediterranean | 3,898 | 17.1 |
| 46 | BBC 1 | The apprentice: you’re hired | 3,886 | 25.9 |
| 47 | BBC 1 | Eat well for less? | 3,882 | 20.7 |
| 48 | ITV | Paul o’grady’s little heroes | 3,870 | 21.2 |
| 49 | ITV | What would your kid do? | 3,861 | 17.9 |
| 50 | ITV | Joanna lumley’s silk road adventure | 3,844 | 18.5 |
| 51 | CH4 | The great festive bake off | 3,829 | 13.4 |
| 52 | CH4 | The great christmas bake off | 3,828 | 13.3 |
| 53 | BBC 1 | Shop well for less? | 3,802 | 19.8 |
| 54 | ITV | The cruise: voyage to alaska | 3,802 | 14.7 |
| 55 | ITV | Long lost family | 3,764 | 17.8 |
| 56 | ITV | Paul o’grady love of dogs xmas | 3,760 | 17.1 |
| 57 | ITV | President trump – piers morgan | 3,719 | 21.9 |
| 58 | ITV | Serial killer with piers morgan | 3,709 | 15.7 |
| 59 | ITV | Britain’s favourite dogs: top 100 | 3,694 | 15.6 |
| 60 | BBC 1 | The truth about carbs | 3,684 | 19.2 |
| 61 | BBC 2 | Masterchef: the professionals | 3,684 | 18.1 |
| 62 | BBC 1 | Watchdog | 3,677 | 17.1 |
| 63 | BBC 1 | Earth’s natural wonders | 3,676 | 14.7 |
| 64 | ITV | The real camilla: hrh the duchess | 3,675 | 15.6 |
| 65 | ITV | Parachute murder plot | 3,657 | 14.9 |
| 66 | BBC 2 | They shall not grow old | 3,653 | 18.6 |
| 67 | ITV | Children who kill | 3,653 | 14.7 |
| 68 | CH4 | 24 hrs in police custody | 3,652 | 17.4 |
| 69 | ITV | The martin lewis money show live | 3,651 | 16.1 |
| 70 | ITV | Sir cliff richard: 60 years | 3,629 | 16.9 |
| 71 | ITV | How to spend it well at christmas | 3,626 | 15.5 |
| 72 | ITV | Long lost family: what happened next | 3,613 | 15.6 |
| 73 | ITV | The cruise: sailing the caribbean | 3,587 | 14.9 |
| 74 | BBC 2 | Tom kerridge: lose weight for good | 3,520 | 14.0 |
| 75 | ITV | Billy connolly’s ultimate world tour | 3,495 | 18.0 |
| 76 | ITV | Paul o’grady love of dogs: india | 3,487 | 16.4 |
| 77 | BBC 1 | The truth about looking good | 3,455 | 14.7 |
| 78 | CH4 | Gogglebox: celebrity special | 3,453 | 16.3 |
| 79 | ITV | Love your garden | 3,395 | 18.6 |
| 80 | ITV | Royal wedding: family celebration | 3,387 | 15.8 |
| 81 | ITV | Paul o’grady for the love of dogs | 3,378 | 19.0 |
| 82 | BBC 2 | Royal wedding: highlights | 3,369 | 18.6 |
| 83 | ITV | 100 years younger in 21 days | 3,364 | 14.8 |
| 84 | BBC 1 | A hotel for the super rich and famous | 3,361 | 15.1 |
| 85 | BBC 1 | Drowning in plastic | 3,331 | 14.9 |
| 86 | ITV | Police tapes | 3,323 | 15.3 |
| 87 | ITV | The investigator | 3,323 | 14.2 |
| 88 | BBC 2 | Dragons’ den | 3,321 | 16.7 |
| 89 | BBC 2 | Top gear | 3,315 | 11.7 |
| 90 | BBC 1 | Christmas shop well for less? | 3,304 | 15.7 |
| 91 | ITV | Harry meghan: 1st tour | 3,293 | 14.1 |
| 92 | ITV | Royal wives of windsor | 3,275 | 13.5 |
| 93 | ITV | A & E live | 3,273 | 15.0 |
| 94 | ITV | Harry: four royal weddings | 3,270 | 14.5 |
| 95 | CH4 | Celebrity hunted | 3,268 | 15.9 |
| 96 | Channel 5 | Michael Palin N korea | 3,263 | 15.4 |
| 97 | BBC 1 | Boots: pharmacists under pressure? | 3,212 | 14.2 |
| 98 | ITV | Invitation to a royal wedding | 3,211 | 14.1 |
| 99 | BBC 2 | Princess margaret: the rebel royal | 3,194 | 15.0 |
| 100 | CH4 | Escape to the chateau at Christmas | 3,181 | 13.7 |
The Great British Bake Off
AUDIENCE: TOP #101-200
- And here is 2018’s Top 101-200 Factual, including Documentaries, Lifestyle and Current Affairs. (Individuals 4+)
| Channel | Programme Title | ‘000 | Share | |
| 101 | ITV | Trevor mcdonald and the killer nurse | 3,176 | 12.8 |
| 102 | BBC 1 | Miriam’s big american adventure | 3,174 | 12.8 |
| 103 | ITV | This morning | 3,156 | 44.6 |
| 104 | ITV | Gino’s italian coastal escape | 3,152 | 14.5 |
| 105 | BBC 1 | Indonesia tsunami appeal | 3,148 | 24.6 |
| 106 | ITV | Rachel nickell: the untold story | 3,116 | 14.7 |
| 107 | ITV | Save money: good food | 3,107 | 14.5 |
| 108 | BBC 2 | Inside the factory | 3,105 | 13.9 |
| 109 | BBC 1 | Fake britain | 3,104 | 15.5 |
| 110 | BBC 1 | Taking on putin: panorama | 3,103 | 15.4 |
| 111 | BBC 1 | rhs chelsea flower show | 3,096 | 23.8 |
| 112 | ITV | Coronation street’s dna secrets | 3,056 | 16.1 |
| 113 | ITV | Good evening britain | 3,051 | 14.2 |
| 114 | ITV | Britain’s best walks | 3,027 | 12.6 |
| 115 | ITV | This morning – 30 unforgettable years | 3,027 | 13.0 |
| 116 | BBC 1 | Home from home | 3,011 | 14.9 |
| 117 | BBC 2 | Billy connolly: made in scotland | 3,006 | 12.7 |
| 118 | BBC 1 | Inside out | 3,001 | 14.1 |
| 119 | BBC 1 | Panorama: millionaire bankrupts | 2,996 | 12.2 |
| 120 | ITV | The fast fix: diabetes | 2,984 | 13.3 |
| 121 | BBC 2 | Gardeners’ world | 2,950 | 13.6 |
| 122 | CH4 | The island with bear grylls | 2,931 | 11.4 |
| 123 | BBC 1 | Antiques road trip | 2,908 | 20.1 |
| 124 | ITV | Harold shipman: doctor death | 2,906 | 12.9 |
| 125 | BBC 2 | A house through time | 2,897 | 10.9 |
| 126 | ITV | Am i a murderer? | 2,885 | 12.3 |
| 127 | ITV | 100 year old driving school | 2,880 | 13.4 |
| 128 | ITV | Britain’s busiest motorway | 2,871 | 12.5 |
| 129 | BBC 1 | The truth about obesity | 2,862 | 13.4 |
| 130 | CH4 | Hunted | 2,860 | 11.0 |
| 131 | CH4 | 24 hours in a & e | 2,856 | 12.5 |
| 132 | BBC 1 | Nightmare pets sos | 2,853 | 14.8 |
| 133 | BBC 2 | Surgeons: at the edge of life | 2,851 | 10.3 |
| 134 | CH4 | The bulger killers: was justice done? | 2,821 | 10.4 |
| 135 | ITV | Best of the palladium | 2,807 | 14.3 |
| 136 | BBC 1 | Question time | 2,805 | 29.6 |
| 137 | BBC 1 | The royal wedding | 2,804 | 17.6 |
| 138 | BBC 1 | Celebrities on the nhs frontline | 2,794 | 12.3 |
| 139 | BBC 1 | Money for nothing | 2,786 | 25.6 |
| 140 | CH4 | Grand designs | 2,780 | 11.2 |
| 141 | ITV | Long lost family christmas reunion | 2,771 | 12.1 |
| 142 | BBC 1 | Bargain hunt | 2,769 | 28.5 |
| 143 | ITV | River monsters | 2,769 | 12.5 |
| 144 | ITV | Best walks with a view | 2,768 | 17.6 |
| 145 | BBC 2 | Grizzly bear cubs and me | 2,755 | 12.6 |
| 146 | BBC 1 | Elephants on the move | 2,743 | 14.8 |
| 147 | BBC 1 | The sheriffs are coming | 2,742 | 12.0 |
| 148 | BBC 1 | Panorama – trump voters: one year | 2,738 | 11.2 |
| 149 | ITV | Ross kemp and the armed police | 2,738 | 12.8 |
| 150 | BBC 1 | Aretha Franklin: respect | 2,722 | 16.6 |
| 151 | ITV | The kyle files | 2,717 | 11.9 |
| 152 | BBC 2 | Inside the christmas factory | 2,711 | 11.2 |
| 153 | BBC 2 | Trust me, i’m a doctor | 2,703 | 10.5 |
| 154 | CH4 | Prison | 2,699 | 11.9 |
| 155 | CH4 | First dates at christmas | 2,699 | 11.2 |
| 156 | CH4 | Sas: who dares wins | 2,695 | 9.6 |
| 157 | BBC 1 | Panorama: britain’s equal pay | 2,692 | 13.1 |
| 158 | BBC 1 | River walks | 2,690 | 13.7 |
| 159 | ITV | £10k holiday home | 2,690 | 14.8 |
| 160 | BBC 1 | Blue planet ii: oceans of wonder | 2,681 | 16.7 |
| 161 | ITV | Eat, shop, save 2018 | 2,677 | 14.9 |
| 162 | BBC 1 | Hs2: going off the rails? – panorama | 2,675 | 12.5 |
| 163 | ITV | Devon & cornwall cops | 2,665 | 13.0 |
| 164 | BBC 2 | Travels in trumpland with ed balls | 2,652 | 9.9 |
| 165 | BBC 1 | Panorama: white fright: divided britain | 2,649 | 11.1 |
| 166 | BBC 1 | Stephen: the murder | 2,649 | 12.8 |
| 167 | CH4 | Escape to the chateau | 2,645 | 10.2 |
| 168 | BBC 2 | Dragons’ den: pitches to riches? | 2,644 | 12.0 |
| 169 | BBC 2 | The mediterranean with simon reeve | 2,624 | 10.8 |
| 170 | ITV | Britain’s favourite walks: top 100 | 2,622 | 11.4 |
| 171 | CH4 | Married at first sight | 2,621 | 12.3 |
| 172 | ITV | Emmerdale 1918 | 2,620 | 13.3 |
| 173 | ITV | How to spend it well: house and garden w | 2,599 | 13.9 |
| 174 | BBC 1 | The universal credit crisis: panorama | 2,597 | 12.9 |
| 175 | CH4 | Celebrity island with bear grylls | 2,594 | 9.0 |
| 176 | ITV | Griff’s great britain | 2,593 | 13.1 |
| 177 | BBC 1 | The queen: her commonwealth story | 2,590 | 10.3 |
| 178 | ITV | Bear’s mission with warwick davis | 2,584 | 11.5 |
| 179 | CH4 | The £1 houses: britain’s cheapest street | 2,583 | 10.1 |
| 180 | BBC 1 | Panorama: immigration: who? | 2,581 | 12.8 |
| 181 | BBC 2 | Hospital | 2,578 | 10.3 |
| 182 | ITV | Harry and meghan – the royal wedding | 2,570 | 18.2 |
| 183 | ITV | To catch a serial killer | 2,566 | 12.1 |
| 184 | ITV | Judge rinder’s crime stories | 2,556 | 12.6 |
| 185 | ITV | Countrywise | 2,543 | 11.6 |
| 186 | BBC 2 | Flatpack empire | 2,536 | 11.3 |
| 187 | CH4 | First dates: valentine’s special | 2,531 | 11.0 |
| 188 | CH4 | Guy martin: the world’s fastest van? | 2,522 | 11.0 |
| 189 | BBC 2 | Autumnwatch new england | 2,519 | 11.6 |
| 190 | Channel 5 | Celebrity big brother | 2,510 | 13.7 |
| 191 | ITV | Love your garden: nhs special | 2,506 | 13.4 |
| 192 | ITV | The queen’s coronation in colour | 2,493 | 10.5 |
| 193 | BBC 1 | Flog it! | 2,485 | 18.2 |
| 194 | BBC 1 | Lorry ladies | 2,481 | 14.0 |
| 195 | BBC 2 | Winterwatch | 2,472 | 11.3 |
| 196 | ITV | The murder of rhys jones: police tapes | 2,470 | 11.0 |
| 197 | ITV | The detectives: the farmhouse robbery | 2,468 | 11.5 |
| 198 | BBC 1 | The island that saved my life | 2,453 | 13.4 |
| 199 | BBC 1 | Rip off britain | 2,449 | 13.1 |
| 200 | ITV | Love your home and garden | 2,448 | 10.4 |
Source: BARB
