E4 reality TV show performs well on its first night as it follows in the high-heeled footsteps of the The Only Way Is Essex
After The Only Way Is Essex, Made In Chelsea and Geordie Shore, the structured reality bandwagon rolled into Liverpool with Desperate Scousewives, which debuted with more than 500,000 viewers on E4.
It remains to be seen whether the new E4 series wins a Bafta, like The Only Way Is Essex, but it certainly has the most puntastic title.
Desperate Scousewives, which the Radio Times said was "about as lifelike as the terracotta tans, straightened bleached blonde locks, acrylic fingernails and foot-long eyelashes" of its stars, averaged 562,000 viewers, a 3.1% share, between 10pm and 11.05pm on Monday on E4, including the E4+1 audience.
The first of the eight-part series performed well for E4, 24% up on the channel's slot average for the past three months, but failed to hit the ratings heights of 1 million-rating TOWIE. Early days, though.
The Guardian's John Crace said it was "predictable, vacuous and with a tongue in as many cheeks as possible, Desperate Scousewives is a show that leaves you feeling just that bit grubbier for having guiltily enjoyed it".
