Press release by OzTAM Metro
ABC1’s new comedy/drama Rake starring Richard Roxburgh made its debut last night with a 20% five city share, an audience of 900,000, which peaked at 938,000.
The previous week the slot had an 11% share (479,000 viewers) so Rake delivered a substantially increased share and audience to the slot. Women made up 53% of the audience and men 47%, and Melbourne proved the most popular city with 302,000.
ABC1 Controller Brendan Dahill said “I am thrilled with the audience response to Rake and we are already in negotiations with the producers for a second series.
“Scheduling Rake on a Thursday night was risky, as it is a long time since the network aired a drama on that night. But I felt viewers wanted some fun later in the week and this wonderfully irreverent drama series fitted the bill perfectly.”
ABC TV’s Head of Fiction Carole Sklan said “The ABC is delighted to be showcasing this audacious Australian drama series. It’s from such a talented creative team and stellar cast.
Rake is an eight episode series chronicling the trials and tribulations of criminal barrister, Cleaver Greene (Roxburgh) – defender of the indefensible and champion of the lost cause … both in the court room and the bedroom.
Following Rake last night was the compelling docu-drama I Spry – about Australia’s first master spy – from Peter Butt, the creator of Who Killed Dr Bogle& Mrs Chandler, and this attracted a 17% five city share and an audience of 545,000 – up 59% on the previous week.
Dahill said “ABC1 viewers were last night treated to two fantastic Australian–made programs back to back and we are seeing the return of an audience to our Thursday night fare.”