Poor audiences for new BBC One sitcom

BBC One’s bid to launch a new family sitcom has stumbled at the first hurdle, with just 3.3million viewers tuning in to the first episode of Big Top.

Despite its all-star cast – including Amanda Holden, John Thomson and Tony Robinson – the show attracted just under 15 per cent of the audience at 7.30pm.

It was roundly beaten by a double-length episode of Emmerdale on ITV1, which peaked at 8.2million viewers, according to overnight figures from Attentional.

In the same BBC One slot last week, Jimmy’s Food Factory attracted 5.8million viewers

Published: 3 Dec 2009