BBC reveals top-performing iPlayer shows of the year

BBC drama, Bodyguard, is the most-viewed show of the year so far on the BBC’s iPlayer catch-up service, according to company stats.

Episode one of Bodyguard become most popular episode ever on BBC iPlayer, topping the 2018 list with 10.5 million total requests to date.

Each subsequent episode of the six-part series also featured in the top-10 most-requested iPlayer episodes of the year, establishing Bodyguard as the BBC iPlayer’s best-ever performing box set with 41.3 million requests in total.

Killing Eve was this year’s other standout success story for the BBC’s digital service, with episode one of the spy thriller becoming the second-best performing episode on the iPlayer, after Bodyguard, with 8.9 million requests.

The first four episodes of the eight-part Killing Eve all made it into the top-10 most-watched shows on iPlayer this year and the series has had 40.7 million requests overall – the second-highest ratings for a boxset, again after Bodyguard.

Outside of the top 10, McMafia proved popular with audiences, getting 4.5 million requests for its first episode, while Welsh mystery Keeping Faith had 3.9 million requests for its first episode and Jodie Whittaker’s first outing as the Doctor in the returning series of Doctor Who had 3.6 million requests.

England’s World Cup quarter final against Sweden was the most popular live programme of the year, with 3.2 million requests – 2.8 million of which were live. The BBC also highlighted November as a big month for BBC iPlayer, with 311 million requests for the month, an 8% increase on the same month last year.

“These figures show that the BBC iPlayer remains the first choice for thrilling dramas, big sporting moments and the very best natural history and factual programmes,” said BBC director of content, Charlotte Moore.

“This year’s figures are the best yet and show that the BBC iPlayer is going from strength to strength. With Les Misérables, The Greatest Dancer and a new series of Fleabag coming up in the new year there will be more great programmes for audiences to enjoy in 2019.”