Line of Duty has been named BBC iPlayer’s number one show of 2021. It beat Silent Witness and Tokyo Olympics – it was streamed 137MILLION times!










Line of Duty, has been revealed as BBC iPlayer’s most-watched episode and the most-watched box set This year.

The police crime drama, penned by Jed Mercurio, has beaten the likes of Euro 2020, Silent Witness and the Tokyo Olympic Games. 

Fans are eagerly awaiting Line Of Duty’s seventh series. 

Top spot! Line of Duty has been revealed as the BBC iPlayer's biggest show of 2021...beating Silent Witness and the Tokyo Olympic Games to the top spot in figure released by the BBC

Highest spot! Line of Duty is now the BBC iPlayer’s most popular show of 2021… beating Silent Witness to take the first spot on the BBC’s figures.

Figures released by the BBC revealed that the first episode of the sixth installment was streamed 9.2 million times and the box set being viewed 137 million times overall.    

Despite the season finale that left fans divided, 15.9 million viewers tuned in the find out the true identity of ‘H’, with that episode becoming iPlayer’s most popular this year 

Other top ranking shows included the Olympics in second place at 90.2 million, Pretty Little Liars with 79.9 million, Euro 2020 at 68.2 million and Silent Witness with 62.3 million. 

Wow! Figures released by the BBC revealed that the first episode of the sixth installment was streamed 9.2 million times and the box set being viewed 137 million times

Wow! According to BBC figures, the BBC showed that the BBC had released data showing that the BBC’s sixth episode was streamed 9.2 millions times and that the BBC box set was viewed over 137 million million times.

Disappointed? Despite the season finale that left fans divided, 15.9 million viewers tuned in the find out the true identity of ‘H’, which was iPlayer's most popular episode (Line Of Duty stars Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar pictured in show still)

Disappointed? Despite the season finale that left fans divided, 15.9 million viewers tuned in the find out the true identity of ‘H’, which was iPlayer’s most popular episode (Line Of Duty stars Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar pictured in show still) 

Elsewhere, the most-streamed episodes were revealed as being Vigil, Series 1 – episode 1 in second place at 8 million, Time, Series 1, episode 1 with 7.3 million, The Serpent, Series 1, episode 1, at 6.3 million and the Euro 2020, Final, Italy v England with 6 million streams on the platform.  

Line Of Duty Finale: Compare the Viewing Figures 

2021

Line of Duty finale May 2, (BBC One), 12.8 Million

Prince Philip’s funeral, April 17 (ITV & BBC One) 13.6 million 

Harry and Meghan, with Oprah Winfrey (March 8th) (11.7 Million). 

2020

Boris Johnson lockdown announcement March 23rd (BBC One 14.5 Million

The Queen addresses the nation on April 5, 2014 (BBC One), 14,000,000

Boris Johnson addresses the nation again, on May 10, (BBC One). 18.7million

I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! November 15, (ITV), 12.1 Million

2019

Gavin And Stacey’s Christmas Special (BBC One 17.1million viewers  

2012

London 2012 Olympic Games Closing Ceremonial (BBC One), 24.5 Million

2010

The X Factor, ITV 17.7 Million

1995

Interview with Princess Diana (BBC One 23 Million)

1966

Finale 1966 World Cup (BBC/ITV jointly broadcast) 32.3 Million viewers

 

Line of Duty was renewed in October for another series, according to a source who told The Daily Star that: “Another series is taking place.” It is what millions of viewers have been waiting for.  

According to the source, details such as storylines and filming dates have yet to be determined. The show will not air until at least a couple of years after it is finished.

MailOnline reached out at that point to BBC representatives.

This is after viewers called for the seventh series, after feeling ‘disappointed’ with the conclusion of Series Six in May. The show’s creator Jed Mercurio furiously supported the show.   

Twitter. The 55-year-old writer responded in a passionate post to critics and stated that it was impossible to meet all viewers’ expectations.

Line Of Duty’s 6th season ended on Sunday with 12.8 million viewers tuning in. This was the most ever overnight ratings for the channel. Line Of Duty also had a 56.2% share. Some fans weren’t satisfied. 

Jed addressed the backlash from fans over the finale and admitted that it had ‘divided’ social media opinions, but found a more balanced picture when looking into the audience research.

His tweet read: “1. Although there are many who disagree with the Line of Duty Finale split opinion on social media, the research done by the audience so far suggests a much less extreme view. 

We knew that a down ending might not be as popular with viewers. However, all seven episodes were within 1% of the average viewer score …’

Jed continued: ‘2. The research determines the episode ratings based on randomly polling viewers, rather than sites like imdb where scores can be skewed by users strongly motivated to register their immediate anger/adulation … 

‘3. 1000 viewers randomly submitted scores ranging from 1-10. These were used to calculate an Appreciation Index (AI), which is a score of 100. The AI for the ‘down’ finale was only 7 points below the next lowest in Season 6 (Ep 1) …’ 

Jed said, “4/4 These numbers won’t stop debate, of course. They shouldn’t. That’s still all part and parcel of sharing TV viewing.” Again, thanks for looking.

Hitting back: It comes after the show's creator Jed Mercurio continued to defend the BBC police drama after droves of fans slammed the 'disappointing' series six finale (pictured 2019)

After fans decried the series 6 finale, Jed Mercurio, the BBC’s police drama creator continued to back the BBC. (pictured 2019,)

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