Time beats The Party in battle of new TV dramas

BBC One’s Time has beaten ITV1’s The Party in the battle of the new television dramas, with David Tennant and Siobhan Finneran’s prison drama attracting 1.9 million viewers and securing a slot-winning audience on Sunday night.

The third series of the acclaimed BBC drama drew 600,000 more viewers than ITV’s new adaptation of Elizabeth Day’s novel, which attracted 1.3 million viewers for its opening episode.

The ratings victory gives Time the early advantage in a head-to-head contest between two very different dramas, with the BBC returning to the harsh realities of the prison system while ITV explores friendship, class, privilege and the dangerous consequences of secrets from the past.

David Tennant returns for a powerful new series of Time

The third series of Time, written by Jimmy McGovern and Samuel Bailey, moves the action into a young offender institution, where vulnerable teenage prisoners face the frightening realities of incarceration.

David Tennant stars as Bailey, a veteran prison officer dealing with a crisis of his own, while Siobhan Finneran returns as prison chaplain Marie-Louise, who has lost her faith. When tragedy strikes inside the institution, the pair find themselves at odds, with Bailey holding information about the circumstances surrounding a major incident.

Meanwhile, teenage inmates James, played by Louis McCartney, and Peter, played by Ollie McNulty, struggle to navigate their first weeks and months behind bars. James must confront the consequences of an act of violence, while Peter faces questions surrounding the death of an innocent man.

Their developing friendship offers a glimmer of hope in an increasingly unstable environment, as the drama examines whether people can change and whether the prison system can offer a meaningful chance of rehabilitation.

The new series continues the show’s exploration of the human cost of imprisonment, with McGovern’s writing focusing on vulnerability, lost potential and the lives of people often overlooked by society.

The third instalment follows two previous series that established Time as a major BBC drama, with the latest story shifting the focus from adult prison life to the challenges facing young offenders.

The opening episode aired on BBC One on Sunday night, with the second episode scheduled to follow on Monday at 9pm. All three episodes are available through BBC iPlayer, with the series continuing its weekly broadcast schedule.

The Party brings secrets, politics and privilege to ITV

Over on ITV1, The Party opened with an audience of 1.3 million for a five-part drama starring Luke Evans as Martin Gilmour, a journalist whose life has been shaped by his lifelong friendship with Ben Fitzmaurice, a wealthy and charismatic politician played by Tom Cullen.

Adapted from Elizabeth Day’s acclaimed novel by screenwriter Sarah Solemani, the drama examines how an intense friendship forged during adolescence can become an enduring source of loyalty, dependence and conflict.

Martin grows up with his working-class mother, Sylvia, played by Joanna Scanlan, before winning a scholarship to an elite boarding school, where he meets Ben. The Fitzmaurice family offers Martin the sense of belonging he has long craved, and his bond with Ben continues into adulthood.

Decades later, Martin is invited to Ben’s lavish birthday party at the family country estate. With Ben considering a move into the political spotlight following the resignation of the Conservative Party leader, Martin fears that renewed public attention could expose secrets from their shared past.

The story unfolds across different periods of their lives, moving between their schooldays, university years and adult relationships, alongside the events of the party and the police investigation that follows.

As the drama progresses, questions of identity, class, privilege and devotion come to the fore, with Martin’s loyalty to Ben tested by revelations that threaten to change everything.

The cast also includes Sarah Solemani as Martin’s pregnant wife, Lucy, alongside Lydia Leonard as Ben’s wife Serena, with Joanna Scanlan, Lindsay Duncan and Douglas Hodge among the other prominent cast members.

The series is produced by World Productions in association with Stoic Productions and ITV Studios. It is available to stream on ITVX, giving viewers the opportunity to catch up with the story beyond its television broadcast.

BBC takes the early ratings victory

With Time attracting 1.9 million viewers against The Party‘s 1.3 million, the BBC drama emerged as the clear winner in the opening-night contest.

Both programmes tackle difficult human relationships, but their approaches differ considerably. Time focuses on the lives of prisoners and the people working inside the justice system, while The Party explores the darker side of wealth, political ambition and a friendship that has endured for decades.

The opening figures give Time a promising start for its third series, while ITV will be hoping The Party can maintain interest as its five-part story reveals more about Martin and Ben’s complicated relationship.

With further episodes ahead for both dramas, the coming broadcasts will show whether the BBC can hold on to its lead or ITV can close the gap.

For now, Time has won the first battle of the new Sunday-night dramas, attracting 600,000 more viewers than its ITV rival.

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