‘Great British Bake Off’ Absolutely Trounces England’s Friendly Against Norway In TV Ratings

Chris Wright

4th, September 2014

3 Comments

By Chris Wright

Soccer - International Friendly - England v Norway - Wembley Stadium

The moment Wayne Rooney found out it was pie week on the Bake Off

With a record seven-year low attendance at Wembley already well publicised, the stupefyingly mawkish spectacle that was England’s friendly against Norway suffered yet more ignominy by being resolutely trounced in last night’s television ratings by an hour of plummy folks applying egg-washes to various pastries.

It turns out that “pie week” (a subject understandably close to our hearts) on the BBC’s Great British Bake Off attracted several million more viewers than England’s monotone 1-0 victory on ITV, with a peak of 9.1million viewers tuning in to see Hattie McHomecounties crimp her Cornish game hen pasties while England’s viewership peaked at a mere 5.5million.

The average ratings for each programme were 8.3million and 4.5million respectively.

As it happens; with the likes of San Marino, Estonia, Switzerland, Slovenia and Lithuania next up at Wembley, Roy Hodgson is worried that the billing of England’s upcoming opposition will do little to entice apathetic punters back to Wembley.

“We’ll find it hard to bring attendances back because the opponents we’re playing won’t excite the public,” pondered Hodgson after the Norway game.

Yeah, it’s the opponents, Roy.

They’re the problem.

Posted in International football, Media, Newsnow

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3 Comments

  1. tom the bees fan says:

    its not the opponents or Woys boring tactics, its ITV’s poo coverage who wants to watch ANY football on ITV

  2. Jarren says:

    That’s a very good point, Tom.

    But it is also true that a lot of people just don’t care much for England at the moment. It’s a combination of the World Cup showing plus the teams that England are going to be playing in the Euros.

    I should stress that it’s clear that most English fans / football fans with an interest in the English national team will still watch England no matter who they play.

    The viewing figures go through the roof when England play teams like Spain or Brazil, but then again that’s because every Tom, Dick & Harry is watching, regardless of their interest in the game.

    Good luck to England for the Euros, and special good luck to all the young lads.

    A Northern Ireland resident / supporter.

  3. Jarren says:

    Did I just say “resident”? Scratch that, meant to say “national”. I live in Canada now.

    *facepalm x9001*

Leave a Reply to Jarren