The opening sequence of Poldark had barely begun to roll when viewers started clamouring for star Aidan Turner to take his shirt off.
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The Cornish-set drama starring Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson returns for its second series on BBC One, while a third series is also in the works.
However the picture could change as the BBC’s overnight figures do not take into account those watching on catch-up while the ITV programme’s figures do.
Poldark picked up where it left off, with Ross arrested for “wrecking, inciting a riot and murder”, and Demelza bereft on a cliff-top with the threat of the death penalty hanging over her husband.
Last Sunday night, Victoria’s debut episode beat the BBC’s remake of Are You Being Served? when the drama faced off against the return of the comedy favourite.
The debut series peaked with 9.4 million viewers across TV and iPlayer, generating phenomenal media interest and devotion from viewers which culminated in it winning the Radio Times Audience Award at this year’s Baftas.
Former Doctor Who star Coleman stars as the young monarch in the period drama, inheriting the throne at the age of 18.
Karen Thrussell, the executive producer of Poldark’s production company Mammoth Screen, said: “All are major players in the next volume of Winston Graham and Debbie Horsfield’s saga”.
On the face of it, “Poldark’s return on the BBC has scored an early but narrow victory over the the already-established ‘Victoria” over on ITV, but it wasn’t all good news for Cornwall’s dashing hero.
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Meanwhile, Sunday’s most popular show was The X Factor on ITV, with 7.6 million viewers on average and an audience peak of 8.4 million, including ITV+1 figures.
