Parade’s End gives BBC2 biggest drama ratings hit in seven years
Parade’s End has taken BBC2’s drama ratings to a seven-year high after the critically acclaimed period piece made its debut on Friday.
Audience figures show the first episode attracted 3.5 million viewers, making it BBC2’s biggest drama in years.
BBC2 trounced BBC1 and ITV’s Friday night prime-time ratings with 15 percent of all viewers, doubling its usual share.
The five-part series marked a return to television for internationally renowned playwright Tom Stoppard after a 35-year hiatus.
Stoppard helped boost the channel to its most impressive ratings since HBO’s historical drama Rome aired in 2005.
Star turns from Benedict Cumberbatch, who enjoys a large global following, and Rebecca Hall, also helped give prominence to the period piece.
Critical praise was just as forthcoming as viewers.
The Telegraph’s reviewer James Walton described it as a programme that ‘demanded and rewarded our full attention’ and awarded it four and a half stars. It was met with an equally rapturous reception across the board in other national newspapers.
Concert pianist James Rhodes wrote on Twitter: “Parade’s End the perfect counterpoint to a heavy day. Hall, Stoppard & Cumberbatch - what a combination! TV that makes one feel smart…“
The drama, dubbed ‘the thinking person’s Downton Abbey’ has been adapted from a quartet of novels by Ford Madox Ford, widely acknowledged be one of the literary masterworks of the 20th century.
It is directed by multi Emmy-nominated and Bafta-winning film maker Susanna White.
Damien Timmer, executive producer of Parade’s End, said: “It clearly needed exceptional talent to bring these modernist masterpieces to the screen, and working with Tom Stoppard on his adaptation has been such a privilege.
“His dedication to the project has been inspiring for all of us. There was a real chemistry between his scripts, Susanna White’s brilliant direction and teh ensemble cast led by Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall.”
source: telegraph.co.uk
Critical praise was just as forthcoming as viewers.
The Telegraph’s reviewer James Walton described it as a programme that ‘demanded and rewarded our full attention’ and awarded it four and a half stars. It was met with an equally rapturous reception across the board in other national newspapers.
Concert pianist James Rhodes wrote on Twitter: “Parade’s End the perfect counterpoint to a heavy day. Hall, Stoppard & Cumberbatch - what a combination! TV that makes one feel smart…“
The drama, dubbed ‘the thinking person’s Downton Abbey’ has been adapted from a quartet of novels by Ford Madox Ford, widely acknowledged be one of the literary masterworks of the 20th century.
It is directed by multi Emmy-nominated and Bafta-winning film maker Susanna White.
Damien Timmer, executive producer of Parade’s End, said: “It clearly needed exceptional talent to bring these modernist masterpieces to the screen, and working with Tom Stoppard on his adaptation has been such a privilege.
“His dedication to the project has been inspiring for all of us. There was a real chemistry between his scripts, Susanna White’s brilliant direction and teh ensemble cast led by Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall.”
source: telegraph.co.uk
It appears it's only when Benedict makes a comment about Downtown Abbey it all of a sudden becomes press worthy. The more popular he gets the more people want to discredit him, as usual.
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