C5’s Blood draws less than Penance

Channel 5 seems to be working its way through a hellish torture cycle, with its drama Blood’s return coming hot on the heels of Penance a few weeks ago. Looking forward to ‘Greed’ and ‘Heresy’ soon – or more fitting perhaps, ‘Limbo’. Meanwhile, Channel 4 continued its quick turnaround frenzy.

C5 drama play ambles along

The second series of C5’s Blood, comprising six episodes playing out over five nights with Friday as a double bill, averaged 869,000/4% (incl +1), fewer than Penance, which over three nights from 17 March averaged 1.2 million/7% (incl +1) in overnights.

The best of Blood was Friday’s nearly 120-minute finale (847,000/5%; 84,000 +1). It lost to C4’s Gogglebox (3. 6million/17%; 555,000 +1) at 9pm and Friday Night Dinner at 10pm (2 million/12%; 150,000 +1).

BBC2’s 60-minute Gardener’s World from 8.30pm (2.5 million/12%) and QI at 9.30pm (1.1 million/5%) also sauntered past.

Lockdown docs provide mixed results

Since lockdown began, C4 has transmitted a slew of quick turnaround coronavirus documentaries – around nine in the first four weeks at 8pm or 9pm.

The best in overnights so far is Friday 27 March’s Coronavirus: Can You Avoid It? at 8pm (1.7 million/9%; incl +1).

This week’s title was on Wednesday at 9pm. What’s It Like To Catch Coronavirus? took 691,000/3%; 110,000 +1), making it C4’s second-lowest virus-themed title at 9pm, ahead of Monday 6 April’s A Day in the Life of Coronavirus Britain (771,000/4%; incl +1).

Opposite this Wednesday, C5’s Blood just sneaked ahead with 726,000/4%; 107,000 +1. BBC2’s Hulu drama Devs came third (388,000/2%).

Grayson opens Art Club

Reflecting lockdown in its own arty way, C4’s home-shot doc series Grayson’s Art Club launched on Monday at 8pm with 941,000/5%; 82,000 +1 – about par with the slot average.

It lost out to C5’s Police Interceptors (1.4 million/7%; 101,000 +1) and BBC2’s Mastermind (2.2 million/12%) at 8pm for half an hour.