Friday Night Dinner storms to record ratings

Tuesday 7th April 2020, 5:20pm

  • Friday Night Dinner is reaching huge audiences for its latest series
  • The first episode of Series 6 has become All 4's most-watched episode of comedy ever
  • 4.29 million people watched the programme in its first week
Friday Night Dinner. Image shows from L to R: Jackie (Tamsin Greig), Adam (Simon Bird), Martin (Paul Ritter), Jonny (Tom Rosenthal)

Friday Night Dinner's sixth series is continuing to set audience records.

With the third episode of the series due to air later this week, 7-day consolidated audience figures for the first episode - broadcast on Friday 27th March at 10pm - have reached 4.29 million viewers.

Previously the highest rated episode of the Channel 4 sitcom was the first in Series 1 (25th February 2011), but that had only attracted 2.66 million viewers after 30 days.

The performance of Series 6 Episode 1, The Caravan, makes it the single most popular ever episode of any comedy on the broadcaster's streaming platform, All 4, and the third most-watched episode in any genre.

The second episode of Series 6 achieved an overnight viewing figure of 2.04 million; slightly down from Episode 1's 2.42 million, but still one of the most-watched comedy programmes in a number of weeks.

Speaking to British Comedy Guide, Channel 4 explained: "The record breaking launch of Series 6 of Friday Night Dinner attracted the biggest ever audience to a comedy series on Channel 4, averaging a whopping consolidated audience of 4.3 million viewers.

"The show has incredible youth appeal, drawing the highest share of young viewers to a scripted comedy on a commercial channel ever and is also the biggest ever comedy episode on All 4 - the third biggest title ever on All 4."

Kenton Allen, executive producer of the series and CEO of production company Big Talk, says: "The Friday Night Dinner team worked incredibly hard to get Series 6 on the air before virtually the entire industry shut down, so we're delighted that a record breaking audience are finding and enjoying the show.

"In times of crisis, comedy is the great escape, and we're grateful that we're able to offer some kind of distraction via the Goodman family, Jim, and of course, the people's pooch, Milson."

Channel 4's Head of Comedy, Fiona McDermott, added: "Friday Night Dinner has once again proven itself to have all the perfect ingredients - food, family, farce and a dog called Milson. It's always been a viewer's favourite so we are especially thrilled to have launched this record breaking comedy at a time when the nation really needs cheering up."

All series are now available to order on DVD.

Friday Night Dinner - Series 6

The super smash-hit comedy is back for a sixth tasty helping of six mouth-watering new episodes, as brothers Adam and Jonny return to the family home for a Friday night dinner of roast chicken, crimble-crumble and all-round craziness.

In this series Dad buys a grotty old caravan - and starts living in it, Mum almost has a heart attack when the boys both get 'females', Jonny buys the world's most disgusting coat, Adam gaffer-tapes Jonny's phone to the ceiling, Aunty Val takes up sexting, Horrible Grandma wreaks havoc in the Goodman household - and Jim gets a brand new dog.

First released: Monday 18th May 2020

  • Distributor: 2 Entertain
  • Region: 2
  • Discs: 1
  • Subtitles: English

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