Audience turn off in droves

Psychoville has suffered a huge slump in viewers, with half its audience turning off over the course of the second series.

Just 661,000 watched the show on BBC Two last night, significantly down on the 1.14million who saw the opening episode three weeks ago.

It also compared badly to the 1.4million the first series of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s dark comedy averaged in 2009.

Two more episodes remain, but to further dent its chances in the ratings, the final episode will be moved to a Monday to make way for the return of Mock The Week.

But there was better news for the return of Johnny Vegas in Ideal last night. The seventh series started with 628,000 viewers – notably up on the 448,000it averaged last season.

Published: 27 May 2011