It’s always a pleasure to share the UK’s highest-rated documentary and unscripted programs for the past year.
My ratings snapshot for 2019 is comprised of:
- The Top 50 in the combined Documentary and Lifestyle / Hobbies category.
- My Takeaways.
- Then #51-100.
- I concluded with the Top 25 Current Affairs programs because there is some overlap with the Documentary category.
Will UK Matter Less?
- The UK is the #2 English-speaking television market.
- A generously-funded Factual sector has been a creative innovator for generations.
- However, the industry is enduring the twin disruptions of the rise of Netflix and other online viewing platforms, and a reactionary government that is deeply hostile to the BBC.
- For the broadcasters, this dramatic shift translates into a shrinking and ageing audience, and upcoming budget cuts of uncertain scale.
- Meanwhile, my recent visit to Paris revealed a relatively stable funding landscape where the total production spend will soon be topped up by the local programming quotas that will be enforced on streamers like Netflix.
My Post-Brexit Thoughts
- More UK creatives are likely to become guns-for-hire in the EC and U.S., where they are valued for their directing, writing and other senior-level skills.
- And British producers will become more active in the co-pro market.
Notes on the Data
- The ‘000 P4+’ column refers to viewers 4 years and older in thousands.
- Share refers to the program’s share of television sets in use at that time.
- The data refers to highest single episode in a series.
- The categories come from BARB, and titles are sometimes incomplete.
UK Broadcast Audience
Documentary & Hobbies Category
Top 50 2019
| Channel | Title | ‘000 Viewers People 4+ | Share | |
| 1 | Channel 4 | THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF | 9,769 | 37.6 |
| 2 | BBC 1 | SEVEN WORLDS, ONE PLANET | 8,704 | 39.8 |
| 3 | BBC 1 | THE APPRENTICE | 7,043 | 30.2 |
| 4 | BBC 1 | ANTIQUES ROADSHOW | 6,789 | 32.9 |
| 5 | BBC 1 | COUNTRYFILE | 6,564 | 33.5 |
| 6 | ITV | BRADLEY WALSH & SON: BREAKING DAD | 6,447 | 28.5 |
| 7 | BBC 1 | BLUE PLANET LIVE | 5,745 | 24.3 |
| 8 | BBC 1 | COUNTRYFILE WINTER SPECIAL | 5,665 | 27.7 |
| 9 | BBC 1 | THE REPAIR SHOP AT CHRISTMAS | 5,533 | 29.2 |
| 10 | Channel 4 | THE GREAT CELEBRITY BAKE OFF FOR SU2C | 5,183 | 21.0 |
| 11 | ITV | HARRY’S HEROES: THE FULL ENGLISH | 5,145 | 24.0 |
| 12 | BBC 1 | MASTERCHEF | 5,015 | 22.5 |
| 13 | BBC 1 | WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? | 5,013 | 24.5 |
| 14 | ITV | PAUL O’GRADY: FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS | 4,910 | 22.9 |
| 15 | BBC 1 | THE MURDER OF JILL DANDO | 4,901 | 21.4 |
| 16 | Channel 4 | LEAVING NEVERLAND: MICHAEL JACKSON & ME | 4,672 | 20.8 |
| 17 | ITV | 63 UP | 4,654 | 19.5 |
| 18 | BBC 1 | CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF | 4,621 | 19.5 |
| 19 | ITV | GORDON, GINO AND FRED CHRISTMAS ROAD TRIP | 4,545 | 19.6 |
| 20 | Channel 4 | GOGGLEBOX | 4,517 | 22.0 |
| 21 | BBC 1 | EARTH FROM SPACE | 4,494 | 17.8 |
| 22 | BBC 1 | CELEBRITY APPRENTICE FOR COMIC RELIEF | 4,482 | 19.1 |
| 23 | ITV | FRED & ROSE WEST THE REAL STORY | 4,421 | 18.7 |
| 24 | ITV | LONG LOST FAMILY: BORN WITHOUT TRACE | 4,321 | 20.1 |
| 25 | BBC 1 | THE APPRENTICE: YOU’RE HIRED | 4,236 | 24.3 |
| 26 | BBC 1 | DIY SOS: THE BIG BUILD | 4,172 | 19.2 |
| 27 | BBC 1 | KILIMANJARO: THE BIGGER RED NOSE CLIMB | 4,166 | 15.9 |
| 28 | ITV | LONG LOST FAMILY | 4,159 | 18.1 |
| 29 | Channel 4 | GOGGLEBOX: CELEBRITY SPECIAL SU2C 2019 | 4,147 | 19.0 |
| 30 | BBC 2 | TOP GEAR | 4,133 | 18.1 |
| 31 | ITV | INSIDE THE RITZ HOTEL | 4,131 | 24.3 |
| 32 | ITV | MARTIN CLUNES: ISLANDS OF AMERICA | 4,057 | 16.1 |
| 33 | ITV | BRITAIN’S BUSIEST AIRPORT – HEATHROW | 4,041 | 22.8 |
| 34 | Channel 4 | CELEBRITY GOGGLEBOX | 3,985 | 19.1 |
| 35 | ITV | THE ALL NEW MONTY: WHO BARES WINS | 3,985 | 19.7 |
| 36 | BBC 1 | AMBULANCE | 3,964 | 18.5 |
| 37 | BBC 1 | EAT WELL FOR LESS? | 3,954 | 20.0 |
| 38 | BBC 1 | THE MET: POLICING LONDON | 3,950 | 19.7 |
| 39 | Channel 4 | THE GREAT NEW YEAR’S BAKE OFF | 3,891 | 14.2 |
| 40 | BBC 1 | THE REAL MARIGOLD ON TOUR | 3,840 | 15.8 |
| 41 | ITV | WHAT THE DURRELLS DID NEXT | 3,821 | 21.3 |
| 42 | BBC 1 | DIY SOS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED | 3,752 | 17.3 |
| 43 | ITV | HARRY & MEGHAN: AN AFRICAN JOURNEY | 3,741 | 16.6 |
| 44 | ITV | THE ALL NEW MONTY LADIES NIGHT: WHO BARE | 3,701 | 17.7 |
| 45 | BBC 2 | THE GREAT BRITISH SEWING BEE | 3,692 | 16.2 |
| 46 | BBC 1 | THE RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW | 3,685 | 21.1 |
| 47 | ITV | HATTON GARDEN: THE INSIDE STORY | 3,658 | 17.3 |
| 48 | Channel 4 | THE GREAT CHRISTMAS BAKE OFF | 3,650 | 13.8 |
| 49 | ITV | THE BEST LITTLE PRISON IN BRITAIN? | 3,647 | 21.5 |
| 50 | BBC 1 | JACK THE RIPPER – THE CASE REOPENED | 3,630 | 17.1 |
Birds star in the BBC ratings leader “Seven Worlds, One Planet”
TAKEAWAYS
Natural History
- Seven Worlds One Planet (#2) and Blue Planet Live (#7) with David Attenborough scored with huge audiences.
- Inspired by A&E’s international hit Live PD, channels and platforms everywhere are developing LIVE formats in many genres, notably in Natural History.
A Glut of Super- Blue Chip?
- Are we heading towards a glut of big-budget Blue Chip Natural History series?
- Most of these productions come from veterans of the BBC’s Natural History Unit in Bristol.
- Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, and others have committed mega-millions on Blue Planet-like series that rely on years of research, extraordinary cinematography and never-before-seen sequences of stunning animal behavior.
- After a while, these unforgettable ‘Signature’ scenes become the new normal.
- The commissioning networks and platforms will find that they are paying premium costs for projects that are no longer unique, and that don’t break through.
- Many industry insiders are predicting that buyers will refocus on less costly ($1 million +/-) but still Blue Chip wildlife programs that tell engaging stories, and that are suitable for both the channels and platforms.
Pets
- It was an otherwise meagre Top 100 for the Wildlife genre, even for popular Pets programs.
- Notable are Paul O’Grady’s For the Love of Dogs (#14, 77) and Britain’s Top 100 Dogs Live (#70, and note: more LIVE!)
Notorious Crime Pays
- Great British crimes and criminality are revisited in the Top 50: the Hatton Garden heist, The Murder Of Jill Dando, Fred & Rose West, and even Jack The Ripper.
- Crime, punishment and incarceration are well-covered, for example in Best Little Prison (49), Psychopaths (52) and Channel 4’s Police Custody / Reality series (72)
- Pop celebrity meets expose of criminality in the U.S. import Leaving Neverland: Michael Jackson & Me (16).
Royals Downgraded
- The Windsors have featured in the Top 100 list for years.
- Their births, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, funerals and lifestyle choices have all driven hits.
- But not in 2019.
- Even Meghan and Harry don’t rank until #43.
- However, remarkably to this Brooklyn-based former colonial subject, The Queen’s Christmas Message ranks #1 in audience share and #3 in viewers for 2019 across the combined Documentary, Lifestyle and Current Affairs categories.
- While her son HRH Andrew receives damaging coverage in Panorama‘s Jeffrey Epstein expose (#4).
Celebrity / Pop Culture
- Celebrity-hosted documentaries and fundraisers did well, from Harry’s Heroes, Climbing Kilimanjaro, Celebrity Apprentice to Real Monty spin-offs, and more.
Franchises / Formats
- I often congratulate the BBC’s lower-cost nostalgic franchises Countryfile and Antiques Roadshow for their powerhouse rankings, decade after decade.
- Baking, Master Chef, Lost Lost Families and other formats continue to thrive, though I’m waiting and waiting for a new British format as fresh as Gogglebox was years ago (#20 and #34 in 2019).
- Note also that Channel 5 dropped out of the Top 100,
UK Broadcast Audience
Documentary & Hobbies Category
#51-100, 2019
| Channel | Title | ‘000 Viewers People 4+ | Share | |
| 51 | BBC 2 | MASTERCHEF: THE PROFESSIONALS | 3,546 | 17.8 |
| 52 | ITV | PSYCHOPATH WITH PIERS MORGAN | 3,482 | 14.6 |
| 53 | Channel 4 | SAS: WHO DARES WINS | 3,478 | 13.1 |
| 54 | ITV | THE CRUISE: SHANGHAI TO SYDNEY | 3,470 | 16.3 |
| 55 | BBC 1 | SNOW ANIMALS | 3,455 | 17.6 |
| 56 | ITV | LONG LOST FAMILY: WHAT HAPPENED NEXT | 3,446 | 17.2 |
| 57 | BBC 1 | BLUE PLANET II: OCEANS OF WONDER | 3,392 | 17.0 |
| 58 | ITV | PRINCE CHARLES: INSIDE THE DUCHY OF CORNWALL | 3,358 | 15.7 |
| 59 | BBC 2 | TOP GEAR NEPAL SPECIAL | 3,350 | 14.6 |
| 60 | ITV | HARD TO PLEASE OAPS | 3,345 | 16.1 |
| 61 | ITV | THE JUNK FOOD EXPERIMENT | 3,315 | 16.3 |
| 62 | BBC 1 | JESY NELSON: ODD ONE OUT | 3,258 | 16.7 |
| 63 | BBC 1 | FAKE OR FORTUNE? | 3,253 | 17.8 |
| 64 | BBC 2 | RACE ACROSS THE WORLD | 3,226 | 14.0 |
| 65 | BBC 1 | JAPAN WITH SUE PERKINS | 3,208 | 14.7 |
| 66 | BBC 1 | DIY SOS: CELEBRATING 20 YEARS | 3,180 | 17.5 |
| 67 | ITV | CALL THE CLEANERS | 3,163 | 17.0 |
| 68 | ITV | JILL DANDO – THE 20 YEAR MYSTERY | 3,126 | 15.0 |
| 69 | ITV | BRITAIN’S BUSIEST MOTORWAY | 3,120 | 14.4 |
| 70 | ITV | BRITAIN’S TOP 100 DOGS LIVE: 2019 | 3,119 | 13.7 |
| 71 | Channel 4 | 24 HOURS IN POLICE CUSTODY | 3,092 | 13.5 |
| 72 | ITV | VICTORIA’S PALACE | 3,082 | 14.8 |
| 73 | ITV | SAVE MONEY: GOOD DIET | 3,080 | 18.6 |
| 74 | ITV | HER MAJESTY’S CAVALRY | 3,066 | 15.4 |
| 75 | Channel 4 | CELEBRITY HUNTED | 3,063 | 13.4 |
| 76 | BBC 1 | THE REPAIR SHOP | 3,052 | 26.1 |
| 77 | ITV | PAUL O’GRADY FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS XMAS | 3,048 | 16.1 |
| 78 | ITV | BILLY CONNOLLY’S GREAT AMERICAN TRAIL | 3,042 | 15.6 |
| 79 | Channel 4 | ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAU | 3,032 | 13.2 |
| 80 | ITV | HOW TO SPEND IT WELL AT CHRISTMAS | 3,012 | 14.0 |
| 81 | ITV | SAVE MONEY: LOSE WEIGHT | 2,999 | 17.1 |
| 82 | ITV | CODE BLUE: MURDER | 2,984 | 14.0 |
| 83 | ITV | INSIDE PRISON: BRITAIN BEHIND BARS | 2,970 | 16.1 |
| 84 | BBC 2 | DRAGONS’ DEN | 2,969 | 15.9 |
| 85 | Channel 4 | ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAU AT CHRISTMAS | 2,966 | 12.2 |
| 86 | ITV | CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL KILLER WITH PIER | 2,956 | 11.9 |
| 87 | ITV | SECRETS OF THE ROYAL BABIES: MEGHAN | 2,955 | 12.9 |
| 88 | BBC 1 | SERENGETI | 2,951 | 16.8 |
| 89 | BBC 2 | THE PLANETS (BBC2) | 2,950 | 13.2 |
| 90 | BBC 2 | BILLY CONNOLLY: MADE IN SCOTLAND | 2,935 | 10.8 |
| 91 | BBC 2 | INSIDE THE FACTORY | 2,933 | 15.3 |
| 92 | ITV | WHAT WOULD YOUR KID DO? | 2,932 | 15.1 |
| 93 | ITV | LONG LOST FAMILY SPECIAL: THE UNKNOWN | 2,929 | 13.7 |
| 94 | ITV | EASYJET: INSIDE THE COCKPIT | 2,925 | 14.0 |
| 95 | ITV | LOVE YOUR HOME AND GARDEN | 2,897 | 13.1 |
| 96 | ITV | FIGHTER PILOT: THE REAL TOP GUN | 2,886 | 14.4 |
| 97 | ITV | SAVE MONEY: GOOD HEALTH | 2,884 | 15.0 |
| 98 | ITV | FRAUD: HOW THEY STEAL YOUR BANK ACCOUNT | 2,882 | 14.4 |
| 99 | ITV | THE DEATH OF AIMEE SPENCER | 2,874 | 11.5 |
| 100 | BBC 1 | OUR COPS IN THE NORTH | 2,832 | 15.1 |
UK Broadcast Audience
Current Affairs Category
Top 25 2019
| Channel | Title | ‘000 Viewers People 4+ | |
| 1 | BBC 1 | THE QUEEN’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE | 7,184 |
| 2 | BBC 1 | OUR NEXT PRIME MINISTER | 5,369 |
| 3 | BBC 1 | THE ONE SHOW | 4,236 |
| 4 | BBC 1 | PANORAMA: THE PRINCE AND EPSTEIN | 4,090 |
| 5 | BBC 1 | REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY: THE CENOTAPH | 3,865 |
| 6 | BBC 1 | WAR ON PLASTIC WITH HUGH AND ANITA | 3,629 |
| 7 | BBC 1 | CLIMATE CHANGE: THE FACTS | 3,560 |
| 8 | BBC 1 | SHOP WELL FOR LESS? | 3,433 |
| 9 | BBC 1 | WATCHDOG | 3,397 |
| 10 | BBC 1 | FAKE BRITAIN | 3,337 |
| 11 | BBC 1 | SUPERMARKET SECRETS | 3,303 |
| 12 | BBC 1 | THE ANDREW NEIL INTERVIEWS | 3,177 |
| 13 | BBC 1 | BRITAIN’S FAT FIGHT: THE BATTLE CONTINUE | 2,987 |
| 14 | BBC 1 | INSIDE THE SUPERMARKET | 2,949 |
| 15 | BBC 1 | QUESTION TIME | 2,846 |
| 16 | BBC 1 | TAKEAWAY SECRETS EXPOSED: PANORAMA | 2,727 |
| 17 | BBC 1 | RIP OFF BRITAIN | 2,708 |
| 18 | BBC 1 | CRITICAL INCIDENT | 2,626 |
| 19 | BBC 1 | THE SHERIFFS ARE COMING | 2,612 |
| 20 | BBC 1 | QUESTION TIME ELECTION SPECIAL: UNDER 30 | 2,596 |
| 21 | BBC 1 | QUESTION TIME RESULTS SPECIAL | 2,579 |
| 22 | BBC 1 | STACEY MEETS THE IS BRIDES: PANORAMA | 2,397 |
| 23 | BBC 1 | PANORAMA: CONNED BY MY CHURCH | 2,397 |
| 24 | BBC 1 | UNDERCOVER HOSPITAL ABUSE SCANDAL | 2,394 |
| 25 | BBC 1 | CAN WE TRUST HUAWEI? – PANORAMA | 2,277 |
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