BBC1’s The Great British Bake Off appears to be heading for a record-breaking final after 10 million viewers watched Flora Shedden exit at the semi-final stage, more than a million viewers up on last year.
The cookery show, hosted by Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, topped the 10 million mark for the third time this series and is consistently 2 million viewers up year on year in the consolidated figures, averaging 12 million.
Wednesday’s semi-final drew 10 million viewers, a 43.2% share of the audience, from 8pm, up from 8.8 million (38.6%) for the same stage of last year’s series.
It was up against the return of All Star Mr and Mrs on ITV, which entertained 3.1 million viewers, a 12.5% share, also from 8pm.
Last year’s final was the most-watched entertainment show of 2014 with an overnight average of 12.3 million viewers, beaten only by England’s defeat by Uruguay in the football World Cup.
This year’s final will be competed by Nadiya Jamir Hussain, Tamal Ray and Ian Cumming.
Doctor Fosterin’ the Tardis (sort of)
The penultimate episode of BBC1’s hit Suranne Jones drama Doctor Foster had 6.2 million viewers from 9pm, a 29.6% share, up against ITV’s Midwinter of the Spirit, which could only manage 1.5 million (6.9%).
With ITV’s News at Ten once again moved to make way for UEFA Champions League highlights, the football had 1.3 million viewers, an 8.6% share.
Elsewhere, BBC2’s The Face of Britain by Simon Schama started with 801,000 viewers, a 3.8% share from 9pm.
Sky 1’s You, Me and the Apocalypse, featuring a big-name cast including Rob Lowe, began with 405,000 viewers (2.1%).
