The launch of BBC1 drama The Casual Vacancy pulled in 6.6 million viewers on Sunday night, beating ITV’s Mr Selfridge and the new Channel 4 series Indian Summers.
The adaptation of JK Rowling’s novel, described by a Guardian reviewer as “the Archers meets Benefits Street”, drew a 27.5% share of the 9pm slot audience, according to unofficial overnight figures.
ITV’s department store drama Mr Selfridge drew 3.5 million viewers, a 14.5%, share, also at 9pm.
The Channel 4 period drama Indian Summers, which focuses on British expats during the last days of the Raj, picked up 2.9 million viewers, a 13.4% share, in the same slot.
Other 9pm competition included BBC2’s Dragon’s Den with 2.6 million viewers, an 11% share, and Channel 5’s War of the Worlds with 900,000, a 5% share.
BBC1’s Countryfile was once again the biggest-rating Sunday evening show, attracting 7.6 million viewers, a 35.1% audience share, in the 7pm slot.
Earlier on Sunday, BBC1’s Match of the Day Live, featuring Aston Villa’s clash with Leicester City in the FA Cup, pulled in 2.9 million viewers, a 30.6% share, from 12.15pm to 2.30pm. It was followed by Scotland v Wales in the Six Nations rugby contest, which drew 4.5 million viewers, a 33.7% share, from 2.30pm to 5pm.
All ratings are Barb overnight figures, including live, +1 (except for BBC channels) and same day timeshifted (recorded) viewing, but excluding on demand, or other – unless otherwise stated. Figures for BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 generally include ratings for their HD simulcast services, unless otherwise stated
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