‘Last Tango in Halifax’ to return for second series on BBC One

The BBC has confirmed that Last Tango in Halifax will return for a second series. The romantic comedy – which airs on BBC One – stars Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid as two senior citizens who find love. Last Tango in Halifax premiered with an audience of 6.16m last month, winning its timeslot, and ratings have remained strong with an average of 6m per episode, making the show the fifth most successful new drama series to launch on BBC One in 2012. Sarah Lancashire (Coronation Street) and Nicola Walker (Spooks) also star in the series, which continues on Tuesdays at 9pm. It was also confirmed this week that BBC One have chosen not to recommission comedy Me & Mrs Jones, starring Sarah Alexander and Neil Morrissey. The channel has also dropped Melissa George spy thriller Hunted but has ordered a second run of period drama The Paradise.

The Queen’s speech will be broadcast in 3D for the first time in history, according to a report. Sky has filmed the monarch with 3D cameras and has made the footage available to the BBC and ITV to air on Christmas Day, The Sun understands. The broadcaster has filmed Her Majesty’s annual address for the last few years, and has been exploring the possibility of introducing 3D technology to the event for some time. Queen Elizabeth II, who already has a presence on Twitter and YouTube, is expected to base this year’s speech on the success of the Olympic Games and the Diamond Jubilee. Last year, Prince William and Kate Middleton banned the use of 3D cameras at their wedding. The Queen made her first Christmas address over the radio in 1952, and her live television debut five years later.

The X Factor went out on a high last Sunday night, but still recorded its lowest finale rating since 2005. James Arthur’s triumph in Sunday’s climax peaked with 12.5m – a 44% share – when the result was announced.  Meanwhile, an average of 10.94m (39.1%) watched ITV1’s two-hour broadcast between 8.40pm and 10.40pm (CET), adding 133,000 on +1.. The figure represents 15% drop on Little Mix’s victory last year, and over 30% down on the show’s peak year of 2010 when Matt Cardle won. However, the finale rated better than expected when considering that this year’s series launched with an average of 8.1m. The Xtra Factor followed the main show on ITV2 with 1.61m (7.6%) and 116k an hour later on +1. Strictly Come Dancing’s results programme, which aired at the earlier time of 8pm (CET), rallied to 9.95m (37.7%) on BBC One and was the night’s second most-watched broadcast, while Antiques Roadshow (5.82m/20.9%) held up remarkably well against the first hour of X Factor. Elsewhere on the channel, Countryfile pulled in 6.66m (28.6%) earlier on at 7pm, and documentary Rome’s Lost Empire interested 3.93m (14.3%) from 940pm. After X Factor finished, viewers deserted ITV as Rod Stewart’s Christmas posted an audience of just 3.5m (16.3%) in the network’s lucrative slot as well as 130k on timeshift. Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire? preceded the Simon Cowell singing contest with 2.83m (11.1%) from 7.40pm (+1: 130k).

If you would like me to answer any questions you may have on satellite TV or to expand on anything I have written about please call me on 678 332 815 or email on  richard@europa-digital.com I look forward to your comments and questions. Don’t forget to listen to my radio show every weekday from 10am on Spectrum Radio (90.8fm), or listen online at costaalmeria.spectrumfm.net for the latest news and views from the world of satellite television.

 

by Richard Shanley

Author badge placeholder
Written by

Euro Weekly News Media

Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews

Comments