Peter Kay comedy Car Share smashes iPlayer record

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(Image credit: BBC/Goodnight Vienna Productions)

Peter Kay’s comedy series Car Share has been streamed 2.8 million times in less than a week, according to the BBC.

Peter Kay's first sitcom for BBC1, Car Share premiered on iPlayer before it begins screening on BBC1 tonight (Wednesday, 9.30pm).

Peter Kay’s Car Share became BBC iPlayer’s most successful series to premiere as a box-set to date, with episode one racking up over 1m requests alone. Viewers took the opportunity to enjoy the full series as all six episodes made it to BBC iPlayer’s ‘Most Popular’ section over the weekend.

 

Peter Kay said: "I've been blown away by the response so far. How could I not be? Here's hoping the success continues and people enjoy the series Wednesday and Thursday on BBC One... at half nine."

 

Shane Allen, BBC controller of comedy commissioning, said: “This is a phenomenal reaction which shows how excited audiences are to see Peter in his first scripted comedy for the BBC. We’re so proud of the show and it’s heartening that comedy does so well in the new on-demand world. All credit to Peter for his innovative approach with this series launch which hopefully gives it a following wind for the primetime launch on BBC One tonight.”

 

Patrick McLennan
Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.