'Grass' isn't greener for BBC One

Only Fools and Horses spinoff The Green Green Grass shed another half million viewers on Friday, according to early ratings figures.

The show, centred around Boycie and long-suffering wife Marlene, began strongly a fortnight ago with 9.13 million (41.7%), before dropping off to just 6.12 million (28%) on its second outing. Episode three drew an average of 5.59 million (24.5%), good enough for sixth place overall but behind ITV1’s Taggart, which averaged 6.05 million (28.5%) between 9pm and 10.30pm.

Coronation Street was the day’s top performer with an average of 10.63 million (51.8%) for its 7.30pm episode and 10.06 million (43.3%) an hour later. EastEnders had 10.22 million (46.6%) for second, with Emmerdale taking 8.49 million (46.7%) and fourth.

ITV2’s new series Jordan and Peter: Marriage and Mayhem topped the multichannel chart, drawing an impressive average of 910,000 (6%) for ITV2 in the 9pm hour.

E4 had a respectable 325,000 (2.3%) for romcom My Best Friend’s Wedding between 9pm and 11pm, plus an extra 136,000 (1.3%) via E4+1.

Meanwhile, crime drama CSI delivered the goods for Living TV, averaging 309,000 (2%) plus 224,000 (1.8%) in the 9pm hour and 321,000 (4.1%) plus 127,000 (3%) in the 11pm hour.