Yahoo Movies Sir David Attenborough and crime drama The Serpent break BBC iPlayer record
As we plod on through yet another lockdown, it's no surprise that online streaming platforms have seen a dramatic boost in viewing figures and users – the BBC's iPlayer included.
With darker nights, darker days, and an ongoing pandemic, it's no wonder iPlayer recently broke a viewership record. Kicking 2021 off with an (indoor) bang, the service clocked more than 162 million streams in the first week of the new year.
Among those contributing to iPlayer's impressive figures are Sir David Attenborough's latest documentary series A Perfect Planet, as well as true-crime drama The Serpent, The Independent reports.
Related: The Serpent – Where are Charles Sobhraj and Marie now?
As well as Sir David's soothing voiceovers and Tahar Rahim and Jenna Coleman's captivating turns as serial killer and accomplice, BBC One soap EastEnders was among the week's most-watched programmes, along with Traces.
The Beeb also broke another record in the first week of January, with 4.1 million people under the age of 35 choosing to sign in to their account and turn to iPlayer for comfort.
Of course, The Serpent's place in the iPlayer record books is to be expected, as viewers were "gripped" by the drama right from the off, following its premiere on New Year's Day.
Related: The Serpent viewers rejoice as character makes lucky escape in episode 3
For those who haven't yet caught it, The Serpent stars Rahim as Charles Sobhraj and Coleman as his partner and frequent accomplice Marie-Andrée Leclerc. The re-telling of the real-life murders follows a team of investigators as they try to catch the pair, after detectives notice a worrying trend of traveller deaths across India, Thailand and Nepal.
The Serpent continues Sunday (January 24) on BBC One. All episodes are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
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