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The first episode of the final series of the crime drama drew 7.5 million viewers, giving the channel a 34 per cent audience share and winning the 9pm timeslot. Meet The Lords on BBC Two
drew 1.7 million, while BBC One's Crimewatch attracted 1.5 million. The final episode of Downton Abbey on Christmas Day in 2015 drew 6.6 million viewers in the overnight ratings, as
people tuned in to wish a fond farewell to the Crawley family. The penultimate episode of the period drama in November of that year pulled in 8.8 million. Broadchurch returned on Monday for
a third and final series as Olivia Colman and David Tennant as DS Ellie Miller and DI Alec Hardy lead an investigation into a rape in the fictional Dorset town. The series premiere fell
slightly short of the first episode of series two, which launched in 2015 to 7.6 million, while the first episode of the first series pulled in 6.8 million. Police and rape counsellors have
praised the makers of the drama and said they hope the storyline will encourage victims to come forward. Viewers were moved by harrowing scenes in which Trish Winterman, played by former
Coronation Street actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, recounted being raped in the series opener. The show's writer, Chris Chibnall, said he wanted to tell the story after continued increases
in the number of sexual offences being reported to police.