7.8 watched the first showing of enders on bbc1 next episode then achieved 6.7 in an unusual time slot. Bbc 3 figures show 700 k for the first half gaining a million for the second part. Good enough you think?

Wow only 700k watched the 2nd episode? That's bad

I reckon EE will be dissapointed with that number sharons return was promoted

Also its the stories people care about and EE is just not upto scracth these days they need to fix out the kinks then maybe we could return to the 9-10 mill range

I thought eight or nine million maybe even ten for her return but then lots of people like the 10 pm showing the audience share is good but the figures only match coronation street I expected them to surpass.

The 9pm rating was a bit disappointing but the repeat rating on BBC3 makes up for it. I think it would've been unrealistic to expect a sudden surge in viewers even with all the promotion, but there's a chance the ratings could steadily increase as the week goes on.

the show is still a mess despite kirkwood being gone.
dont get me wrong, its definatly improved, i can actually sit through a whole episode now without flicking channels, BUT it still seems abit all over the place and silly. for example this kat affair thing really is the most ridiculous storyline.

The show's break from BBC1 would only harm the ratings. Some of the people who watched the Olympics instead of EE might not tune back in now that they've missed out on two weeks of storylines.

I don't think they will be happy about that figure for the second episode, the first is fine just nothing spectacular.

Yeah I was able to sit through last nights episodes for the first time in months have not watched whole episodes in a while. Some of it still needs a lot of work other bits are really good. Sharon marshall is an entertaining writer I enjoy her episodes. I like the interaction of characters but the show may settle down once sharon is established again and back behind the vic bar

did it really only get that many?Bimy I thought it would be 9-10 million or somthing.
thats pretty bad

If people don't like Eastenders, they're not going to start watching just because a past character returns. We need to see what viewing figures are like tonight to be sure though.

Usually a returnee at least gets extra viewers for the show, not less than normal.

Was the second episode not up against the Big Brother final? I know Big Brother itself doesn't get massive ratings but I think it's quite popular with young people who may have decided to watch that instead.

BB got its lowest ever final ratings last night.

Programs don't tend to get that any more.

Downtown, Call the Midwife, dreary talent shows and special events (Olympics/Jubilee) seem to be the main exceptions but drama and soaps are lucky to get more than 6 million these days.

It's pretty much iPlayer and Sky + that have killed off high ratings.

Isn't it more significant that viewers didn't tune back in for the 2nd ep.
If Sharon's return had been as good as fans were anticipating, you'd have thought they would have returned for the 2nd ep half an hour later rather than waiting for the BBC3 repeat at 11pm..

I believe if Ross Kemp returned, the figures would go through the roof, people probably don't find a Sharon return very enticing, also there was an interesting programme over on ITV about a deranged murderer

Get Grant back ^

Those ratings are poor given Sharon's return has been heavily trailed and she's supposedly a popular character.

They should have promoted the murder reveal build up because that is fantastic. Instead they put all their eggs in one basket and it flopped.

Bad ratings for such a highly anticipated episode.

I don't think so. Not that many people are interested in the Heather stuff and its ratings for that were only good in the first week.

i must admit i was expecting more - although to be honest the episode kept chopping around and didn't really focus on Sharon returning...i would have liked them to just focus on this

It's been nice weather outside

This.

also the episodes werent upto much either IMO

we had janine and kat who basicly talked rubbish

janine is starting to do my head in now aswell with this S/L she trusts him
she dont trust him
she trusts him
she dont trust him

Ian walking around stareing at everyone not saying a word I get hes had a breakdown but its just not good viewing


Sharons "HELP ME!" was pants aswell they only invented the scene just to have her have a comeback line with a duff duff

her other returning lines you could see sence to them and genuinely worked what we had last night did not!



The only interesting thing was shirleys discovery of the photoframe which was in the 9pm show at the very end

Hopfully tonight will be better but it will be mainly dealing with sharons kidnaped son so I doubt it

I know im being harsh on EE alot lately but I want it to get better with better S/Ls theres being nothing of note for me at all this year besides hevs actuall murder week