Comedy named one of the most-missed shows of the century

More viewers want Count Arthur Strong to return to TV screens than ratings juggernauts Downton Abbey and Life On Mars.

A new poll placed Steve Delaney and Graham Linehan’s comedy as the third most-missed show of the 21st Century, behind  Foyle’s War and The Bill.

The result comes despite the fact that the antics of the bewildered, eccentric actor always struggled to find an audience when it aired between 2013 and 2017, only averaging around 1.2million viewers, even on prime time BBC One.

Life On Mars, which came sixth on the list compiled by Radio Times, attracted around 7.5million viewers, and Downton Abbey at No 8 regularly pulled in more than 8million.

Producer Richard Daws said: 'Seems there is a great deal of love for the show still.'

When the BBC axed Count Arthur in 2017, Linehan said: ‘It was the lack of repeats that killed us. Might as well've just chucked each series down a crevasse.’

The character continues to make occasional Radio 4 specials, and will be out on tour again this autumn (dates)

Mackenzie Crook’s Detectorists was the second most-missed comedy on the list, coming it at No6  followed by Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights at No 9.

The full top ten is:

1. Foyle’s War (ITV, 2002—15)
2. The Bill (ITV, 1984—2010)
3. Count Arthur Strong (BBC Two/BBC One, 2013—17)
4. Spooks (BBC One, 2002–2011)
5. Home Fires (ITV, 2015-16)
6. Life On Mars (BBC One, 2006—7)
7. Detectorists (BBC Four, 2014-17)
8. Downton Abbey (ITV, 2010-2015)
9. Phoenix Nights (Channel 4, 2001-2)
10. Happy Valley (BBC One, 2014-16)

Published: 30 Jul 2019