Doctor Foster beats Bake Off in ratings battle with huge audience

Doctor Foster
(Image credit: BBC/Drama Republic/Nick Briggs)

Over six million fans last night tuned in to watch Suranne Jones return as Doctor Foster beats Bake Off in the ratings battle

Doctor Foster was the most watched television show last night as it returned for a second series, claiming victory over C4’s Great British Bake Off.

The BBC One drama, starring Suranne Jones, drew an average audience of 6.3 million viewers – slightly higher than Bake Off’s average of six million viewers.

Doctor Foster

(Image credit: BBC/Drama Republic/Warren Orchar)

Bake Off’s figure is half a million viewers down from the show’s launch last week, which saw it debut with an average of 6.5 million, giving C4 its highest overnight audience for five years.

C4’s figures includes those who watch the episodes on Channel 4+1.

Doctor Foster and Bake Off overlapped for 15 minutes of viewing on Tuesday night.

bake off

Doctor Foster fans were gripped as writer Mike Bartlett’s drama returned and Dr Gemma Foster (played by Jones) had to contend with the news her ex-husband was moving back to the neighbourhood with his new wife and child.

In the Bake Off tent, cancer survivor Chris Geiger became the second contestant to leave.

His baking dreams crumbled when his creations for biscuit week failed to impress judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood.

David Hollingsworth
Editor

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!