Almost as big a share as a lot are predicting for here, the host country.

Twitter peak at 21:45 - https://twitter.com/ryb/status/229123925047652352

Let's think about what a 30m peak would actually mean. It would mean that every other person in the whole country sat down at home in front of BBC1 at one given point in time.

With millions on summer holiday, working shifts, out socialising, nipping out to the shops for some milk, or whatever, that is pretty damned nigh on impossible.

We have only approached 30m on maybe 3 or 4 occasions, one of those in the 1960s when ratings data was decidedly dodgy.

To hit the magic 20m mark would be special, anything more fantastic. But to touch 30m is pretty much impossible.

We will soon know...

United Kingdom trends
· Change

#olympicceremony
#30GoodMovies
#FightForYourSlutsDaniel
Aidan Burley
Danny Boyle
Mr Bean
Macca
Hey Jude
Cav

Opening ceremony STILL dominating the UK trending topics.

The Olympic Opening Ceremony (21:00 - 00:50) averaged 23.02m (82.7%)

Peaking with 26.899m (81.6%) @ 21:50

Rather amusingly the 5-minute Weatherview straight after the opening ceremony averaged 9.05m (74.8%)

Brilliant - the peak should be massive then


I guess we need to keep a count of these. So that's nearly 26m - just 974m to go to make that billion figure!

Wow if so.

Wow! Absolutely super average. Thought it may peak a tad nearer 30m, but even so best peak on UK TV since Diana's funeral in 1997?

Isn't that the official peak?

Peak lower than many expected but the average People who tuned in, by and large stuck with it.

Stupendous figures there. A 27m peak given the "drop in, drop out" nature of the broadcast and the climax being after midnight is sensational and ranks as one of the biggest single channel peak audiences in TV history.

I did not conceive of a 23m average over 4 hours until nearly 1am. Astonishing.

23 million seems slightly deflated considering all the hype and blanket press coverage for months. I thought it might be a bit higher given that there wasn't a soul out and about last night near me. But still quite impressive nonetheless.

No-one asked about Big Brother yet?
Last edited by 5 a day : 28-07-2012 at 09:40

Again, wow. Not the 30m some were excitedly (over-)predicting but still huge for 2012 and over the 25m predictions.

DS spoiled that for me last night

One of the largest TV audiences in our history, and one of a handful of peak audiences to hit the top 20m's, and people are "slightly deflated"?!

Is that above peak the official peak? As the share is lower than the average, and it's on the news banner.

I think it would have peaked even higher if it hadn't over-run (I think because of the most interesting, but least entertaining part for most, the parade).

Wow. I was so wrong! I hope nobody followed my betting tip.

Astronomically huge average, millions upon millions higher than I ever imagined. Peak looks slightly underwhelming in comparison but I guess it simply means more stuck with it throughout which is even better.

I doubt we will ever see numbers like this again. Can't think of anything which could top it.

Matt, how many were watching at 23:55 and 00:00 (when Team GB appeared) and also at about 00:40 when the caldron was lit?

Wonder if we got a >20m post midnight audience then?

That would rewrite the record books.

And upset Dennis Taylor a bit...

Don't worry, I will

The prediction was exactly in line with what I thought. I think I predicted a 23m average and around a 26m peak.

The share is distorted by people turning off other stations as the time gets later - peak in terms of share was 89.4% (19.94m) at 00:35

A few people on here last night saying 11m watching on big screens. Where do they get that figure?

Is there an official peak (with the share higher than the average share)?

Huge!