Soaps Ratings Roundup: March 12

Coronation Street led the soap ratings on Friday evening, overnight figures show.

The Weatherfield soap's final two episodes of the week, during which Simon ran off from his grandparents in Blackpool, resulting in a mass search, averaged 8.82m (38.2%) and 9.08m (37.7%) at 7.30pm and 8.30pm respectively.

EastEnders, meanwhile, logged its lowest figures of the year with 8.48m (35.9%) tuning in to see Lucy continue to panic about her secret pregnancy being exposed. BBC Three's 10pm repeat added a further 583k (2.9%).

ITV's Emmerdale also dipped to its lowest 2010 numbers so far, bringing in 6.85m (31.6%) in its usual 7pm timeslot.

Doctors' offering, titled 'Hell Hath No Fury', drew 1.82m (23.6%) from 1.45pm.

Five's Australian hour began with 1.34m (8.4%) tuning in for Neighbours at 5.30pm, before Home and Away's football-induced double bill took 895k (4.8%) and 872k (4.4%) in the hour from 6pm.

Fiver's first look at Home and Away had 302k (1.4%), while Neighbours' 7pm repeat added 175k (0.8%).

Hollyoaks' latest screening logged its second-lowest ratings of the year, drawing 1.06m (5.3%) in the half hour from 6.30pm. E4's first look managed 383k (1.8%) from 7pm.

BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional