10 million watch Corrie spectacular
More than 10 million people tuned in to watch a Corrie cliff-hanger last night, as a serial killer remained on the loose.
At the end of a week of tense episodes John Stape, played by Graeme Hawley, appeared to have met his maker after throwing himself from a hospital roof.
Viewers saw the killer lying on the ground in a pool of blood, apparently unconscious.
But when officers went to recover his body, there was no trace to be found.
The peak audience of 10.2 million – 43% share of TV viewers – watched the episode in which Stape’s wife Fiz was recovering in hospital after being hit by a van, when he came in holding their baby daughter.
An average of 9.7 million saw him flee to the roof and a tense stand-off ensued, with the murderer only handing back the baby at the last minute, before jumping.
The drama continued elsewhere as Becky McDonald went on the rampage with a sledgehammer in a fury at being reported to social services for buying her sister’s baby son Max.
In scenes reminiscent of classic horror film 'The Shining', she smashed her way into the Barlows’ house – convinced that Tracy had reported her.
But eventually husband Steve admitted he had made the call, leading his wife to walk out – although not before spitting in his face.
It was confirmed earlier in the year that actress Katherine Kelly, who plays Becky, and Hawley are leaving the soap.
Earlier on the channel a peak audience of 11.4 million watched the Britain’s Got Talent semi-final on ITV1 and ITV+1, which made up a 50% share of the audience.
The one-and-a-half hour show from 7.30pm was watched by an average of 9.4 million, a 45% share, around 100,000 more than equivalent show in last year.
The results show was watched by an average of 9.9 million, more than a million more than the 2010 programme.
