The United Kingdom broadcaster BBC has todat announced that Saturday's ESC was the most watched in the United Kingdom since 1999.

 

According to the official BBC broadcasting figures, there were an average 9.54 million viewers watching the show in the United Kingdom. This represented an audience share of 40.4% between 8.00pm - 11.30pm

 

:yahoo:

It peaked over 12 million at one stage aswell.

It just shows what can be done if we actually bother putting effort into the contest...

I think Jedward probably had more of an impact on ratings than Blue.

I think Jedward probably had more of an impact on ratings than Blue.

 

Definitely. I was at a wedding all Saturday and whilst people were taking photographs after the service, some girls were saying "OMGZ, I'm like sooo gonna miss Eurovision tonight, I wanna see Jedward". I thought "pfft!!!".

 

So yes, I'd say Jedward played a more vital role in the success of the high viewing figures than Blue - as much as it pains me to post this. :(

1.1 million ahead of BGT on average (although it would be fair to say BGT had a higher rating when they were head to head).

Ireland had huge ratings of 1.5 million, that a huge audience for Ireland, eurovision always gets great ratings here but this year it was exceptional, i think there is a good chance we might just see jedward back in eurovision again in the not to distant future.

The officials are out for the week, and the Eurovision got 9.68m - almost one million ahead of the 1999 contest! Figures for 1997 and 1998 aren't available, but I'm guessing they were probably slightly bigger than this year's. Even so, definitely the most watched since at least 1998, and the most watched programme of the week; ahead of EastEnders, Corrie, The Apprentice, Britain's Got Talent, Doctor Who and Emmerdale.

Great that it topped the soaps and if that doesnt show bbc that eurovision can be a big draw if they put in the work nothing will.

Jedward were a big pull, yes, but doubtless having Blue on board helped - most people actually knew our Eurovision entry (or at least who was doing it) in about March this year, which is more than you can say for...well, any point in my living memory.