Yorkshire Post

Babs drama finds a tough opponent in ITV’s The Durrells

-

THE MUCH-ANTICIPATE­D drama exploring the life of Barbara Windsor failed to tear viewers away from period drama The Durrells when it broadcast on Sunday night.

An average of 4.2 million people sat down to the 8pm BBC One biopic Babs, which featured cameo appearance­s from the singer and actress herself.

But devoted fans of the ITV show based in the 1930s would not be swayed and the second season’s third episode pulled in an average of 4.7 million viewers. Airing at the same time as

Babs, a peak audience of five million tuned in to watch mother Louisa, played by Keeley Hawes, celebrate her birthday following the British family’s move to Corfu.

The third episode of the current series of Grantchest­er lost viewers during its broadcast immediatel­y afterwards.

An average audience of 4.2 million viewers stayed on ITV to catch up with the 1950s investigat­ive duo, played by James Norton and Robson Green. Meanwhile,

Babs continued to take viewers on a journey through Windsor’s early life and career before she exploded onto TV screens in the

Carry On films and then as EastEnders’ Peggy. Samantha Spiro and Jaime Winstone played the star at different stages in her life, including her first marriage to Ronnie Knight and her later relationsh­ip with current husband Scott Mitchell.

 ??  ?? SAMANTHA SPIRO: She was one of two actresses to play Barbara Windsor in Babs.
SAMANTHA SPIRO: She was one of two actresses to play Barbara Windsor in Babs.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom