Top Gear Is Improving, But The Ratings Aren't Just Yet

Despite opening with a strong audience share and 4.4 million viewers, Top Gear hasn’t been faring so well in terms of overnight ratings over the last few weeks. According to Barb (Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board) figures quoted by Overnights, the second episode suffered a huge drop to 2.8 million, while the actually rather brilliant third episode fell to 2.4 million, and the fourth episode has dropped further.

Naturally, major newspapers across the land are being terribly dramatic and portraying this as the latest blow for the struggling series, pointing out that last weekend’s episode had the lowest ratings for any Top Gear episode since the show’s relaunch in 2002. However, it isn’t all bad news.

Firstly, the drop in viewers is the smallest we’ve seen so far - with episode four netting 2.34 million. This shows that following the first appearances of Chris Harris and Rory Reid - who are arguably carrying the show while the other presenters attempt to find their feet - viewing figures are starting to level off and may yet increase. Secondly, those figures don’t take into account catch-up viewing, something series 23 of Top Gear has fared well with thus far, particularly when it’s competing with the live football matches of Euro 2016 as it has been the last couple of weeks. Yes, the overnight figures are not ideal and are probably concerning BBC bosses, but they don’t show the full picture.

Ratings aside though, we’re just glad the show is improving. The good news is we can expect Harris and Reid in both of the final two episodes - hopefully the BBC will take heed of the pair’s superior critical reception and give them a bigger part to play next series.