The second season of the BBC drama series, The Tourist, made its debut last night in the highly coveted New Year’s Day 9 p.m. GMT (1 p.m. PT) time slot. However, the premiere episode only managed to attract a meager audience of 2.2 million viewers, a far cry from its first season opener two years ago. The lackluster performance of the show was further highlighted by its direct rivalry with ITV’s post office drama, which comfortably outshone The Tourist in terms of viewership.
Despite the underwhelming premiere, there is still hope for The Tourist as the series may experience a surge in viewership through online streaming platforms. Viewers who missed the episode can watch it on the BBC’s iPlayer, which offers all episodes of the show. It is expected that many will catch up with the series over the coming weeks, potentially boosting the overall viewership numbers.
The Tourist, starring Jamie Dornan, has undergone a setting change for its second season, moving from Australia to Ireland. The storyline follows a character who wakes up in a hospital with amnesia after a car crash. Apart from airing in the UK, the series is co-produced for international audiences as well. It will soon launch on Netflix in the United States, with a release scheduled in the coming weeks. It is also co-produced for Australia’s Stan and Germany’s ZDF, indicating a strong international presence for the show.
The latest episode of The Tourist, produced by Two Brothers Pictures, saw Jamie Dornan’s character, Elliot, being kidnapped while on his way to Ireland in search of answers about his past. This new twist in the plot adds to the suspense and intrigue of the series, potentially piquing the interest of viewers who have yet to tune in.
In yesterday’s viewership ratings, The Tourist trailed behind ITV’s Mr Bates vs. the Post Office, a heart-wrenching drama starring Toby Jones. The show delves into what is considered the greatest miscarriage of justice in British legal history. Both The Tourist and Mr Bates vs. the Post Office continue to air on their respective channels, giving viewers a choice between two compelling series.
While The Tourist struggled to captivate audiences on its season premiere, the BBC did find success with some of its other dramas over the holiday season. Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy adaptation, featuring David Jonsson from the series Industry, garnered an impressive viewership of 3.7 million and 2.8 million viewers on separate airings. Additionally, the feature drama Men Up, produced by Russell T Davies and exploring the story of the invention of Viagra, attracted an audience of 1.5 million viewers on December 29.
The second season of The Tourist faced a disappointing start, failing to entice a significant number of viewers on its premiere night. However, there is still hope for the series as it becomes available for streaming on iPlayer and prepares for its release on Netflix in the United States. With an engaging storyline and international co-production, The Tourist may yet find its footing and gain a larger audience as the season progresses.