Monday night’s season finale of TV3 drama ‘Deception’ scored one of the series highest ratings yet, with 183,900 tuning in to see what fate had in store for Andrew, Aoife, Owen an co.
‘Deception’, the first scripted drama for TV3, was a ratings hit, averaging 209,700 viewers across all six episodes. In total, the six episodes reached over 1.4 million people, and has been picked up by international distributor DRG.
The distribution deal follows other TV3 programmes such as ‘Animal A&E’ and ’24 Hours To Kill’, which have also been picked up by DRG.
‘Deception’ starred a number of well-known Irish actors, including Jim Norton, Leigh Arnold, Nora-Jane Noone, Colm O’Maonlai and Conor Mullen, as well as introduced newcomers Danny McColgan, Sam Smith, Roisin O’Neill, and Gavin O’Connor Duffy. Funded by the BAI and TV3, the commercial broadcaster says the show made a conscious effort to bring new faces to the screen.
The series was shot on location in Spiddal in Galway, with Tyrone Productions and EO Teilifís producing.
Each episode was written by a different screenwriter, with Paul Walker (Stardust, Fair City); Lauren Mackenzie (Pure Mule, The Clinic); Len Collin (The Bill, Eastenders); Ted Gannon (Ballykissangel, Fair City); Christian O’Reilly (Inside I’m Dancing, On Home Ground) and Ailbhe Nic Giolla Bhríghde (Ros Na Rún) all putting pen to paper.
Speaking of the ratings success, a TV3 spokesperson said the broadcaster was “delighted for the ‘Deception’ crew”, and that the ratings were “well and above our expectations”. They continued: “We must be ambitious in TV3 and we must keep experimenting. We are constantly learning but ‘Deception’ encourages us to do more popular drama for our viewers – not everyone is watching ‘Borgen’ on BBC4!”
There is no word yet on a second series of ‘Deception’, but DRG distributors are hopeful the show will be successful at this year’s MIP TV event, which takes place in April. The ‘Deception’ finale is available to watch on the 3player now.
