Stand-up dominates C4 comedy ratings

Peter Kay provided Channel 4 with three of its top 15 shows of 2012, according to new figures.

All were stand-up shows, with The Tour That Didn’t Tour being the third most popular show the broadcaster aired all year.

The TV debut of his 2011 DVD attracted 5.3million viewers in August; beaten only by the Paralympics opening ceremony (7.9m) and Big Fat Gyspy Weddings (6.6m).

Kay’s Live At Bolton Royal Albert Halls show also performed well – even though it is more than seven years old. It was Channel 4’s seventh most-watched programme, with 3.8 million viewers.

And his Live At The Manchester Arena show came in at No 14, with 3.2 million.

Aside from Kay, comedies did not make a good showing in the year-end round-up, compiled by the broadcaster from consolidated data from audience researchers Barb.

The only other comedy in the top 50 was Ricky Gervais’s Derek, whose ratings of 2.87million came in at No 28 place

Published: 19 Dec 2012