Car Share viewing figures have been released – and they’re REALLY surprising

Peter Kay and Sian Gibson in Car Share — (Image credit: BBC/Goodnight Vienna Productions)

Wow, Car Share went out with a bang!

The later ever episode of Car Share got a simply enormous audience for its late 10pm slot, with a massive 6.1 million viewers tuning into the Peter Kay comedy.

The Car Share finale, which saw the last outing for John Redmond (Peter) and Kayleigh Kitson (Sian Gibson) will get an even higher figure once catch up viewers are included.

According to Telly Mix, Car Share comfortably beat EastEnders (4.3 million viewers) and Emmerdale (5.3 million) – the only soap to topple it in the ratings was Coronation Street, which pulled in 7.3 million as Phelan returned to cause chaos.

Sian tweeted that she was "absolutely overwhelmed by all the Car Share love".

Fans are of course optimistic that the BAFTA-winning comedy could return for more specials one day and Sian teased “Never say never” when she was asked about the possibility.

In the days when getting three million viewers to watch a comedy is considered a huge success, getting a figure of over six million is incredible.

Mind you Peter Kay's hit has some way to go to beat the royal wedding, with almost 18 million Brits watching the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex say ‘I do’ at St George’s Chapel in Windsor – making it officially the most-watched TV event of the year!

Fingers crossed Car Share will return…

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.

Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough.

David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.

Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!