BBC director general reveals more young people watched Blue Planet II than 'any Love Island episode'

More young people watched the first episode of Blue Planet II than any single ep of Love Island.

That’s according to BBC director general Tony Hall, who has revealed the first episode of Sir David Attenborough’s nature documentary series – which aired last month – attracted 2.4 million people aged between 16 and 34, with a total of 14 million tuning in.

Speaking to a Select Committee about the BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17, he said: “Blue Planet II, the first episode, which actually got 14 million people watching, means it’s the third highest programme in the last five years on television.

“Actually, 2.3 million people between 16 and 34 were watching that which means more young people watched episode one than any single episode of Love Island.”

Hall admitted he takes “some comfort” from the impressive stat, but also admitted there was still a “big issue” with how the BBC attracts a young audience because of the way in which youngsters consume shows nowadays, and insisted the competition is “enormous”.

He added: “For which I take some comfort. However, there is still a big issue.”

Blue Planet II narrator Sir David Attenborough

Revealing another impressive stat, he said: “In one sense, actually, we’re quite strong, young adults are using us for about nine hours a week, which is actually a really good figure.”

The latest Love Island series came to a close on July 24 with 2.43 million people tuning in to see Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies crowned the winners. A further 150,000 watched the action on ITV2 +1.

The Love Island cast of 2017

Episode one of Blue Planet II became the most-watched programme of 2017 after it was seen by a total of 14.01 million people.

The episode attracted over two million viewers more than the 11.63 million who tuned in for the One Love Manchester concert in June following the terrorist attacks in the city.

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