Episode 1 - 2.5 million viewers and a 12% share

While a relatively strong showing, that is nevertheless down by 29% on the season one premiere (3.5 million viewers), 31% on the season one finale (3.6 million viewers) and 24% on the season one overnight average (3.3 million viewers).

Despite that decrease in viewership from the first season, The Fall was still able to beat the channel’s 12 month slot-average. The figures are expected to increase significantly once consolidated numbers are available, especially given that the first season saw lifts of up to 40% once time-shifted viewing was factored in.


Episode 2 - 2.2 million viewers and a 9% share

That is down by 300K viewers and 12% on the season two premiere, which drew 2.5 million viewers and a 12% share, and while that marks a new series low overnight rating for the drama, it is still up by more than 50% on the channel’s 12 month slot average.

The Fall has been suffering some ratings declines in its second season, though it is worth noting that the show is up against stiffer competition in its time-slot this year – specifically ratings juggernaut I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here on ITV.

That being the case, The Fall is expected to see significant increases once consolidated ratings are available (the numbers for the first episode will be in shortly), just as was the case for fellow BBC Two drama Line of Duty, which suffered similar overnight ratings declines in its second season.

TV Wise: BBC Two is supersizing the season finale of The Fall. The sixth and final episode of the show’s second season, set to air on BBC Two on Thursday December 18th, will run 90 minutes, rather than the standard length of 60 minutes, it was announced today.

The announcement, which was made this morning by series star Gillian Anderson on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2, is likely to fuel speculation as to whether or not DSI Gibson (Anderson) will catch serial killer Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan) by the end of the second season.

Gillian Anderson, who, in addition to starring, is an executive producer on The Fall, also teased a potential third season of the series. She suggested that the show could go down two possible routes and either not catch Spector and therefore mandate a third run; or catch him and still do a third season, which would presumably focus on a new case.

The Fall continues to air on BBC Two on Thursday nights at 9pm and will debut on Netflix in the United States and Latin America on Friday January 16th, when all 6 episodes will be made available to subscribers.