Normal People doubles BBC Three opening week record
21.8 million people requested the show on BBC iPlayer in its opening week
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Normal People has given BBC Three its best ever week for programme requests after the show more than doubled the previous record held by Killing Eve.
The hotly anticipated adaptation of Sally Rooney’s award-winning novel was requested more than 21.8 million times on BBC iPlayer in the week since it first dropped on 26 April.
The opening week record was previously held by the first series of Killing Eve, which received 10.8 million total requests in its first week.
BBC Three controller Fiona Campbell said: “We’re delighted that Normal People has been such a success and so many people have come to iPlayer to watch it.
“It’s a modern masterpiece which has helped in catapulting the careers of two brilliant young actors, and we’re looking forward to bringing more drama to BBC Three in the future.”
Normal People follows Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal), two Irish teenagers navigating an on-off relationship while struggling with the class and social barriers that keep them apart.
The show debuted to critical acclaim, with The Independent rating the 12-part series five stars, writing; “Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal inhabit lovers Marianne and Connell so utterly that it is instantly impossible to imagine them being played by anyone else.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments