British TV Ratings of the 1950s - part 2

TOP TEN TV SHOWS MONTH BY MONTH - 1955 to 1959 (Part 1)

Here's the second part of a list of the top ten Britsh TV shows on a month-by-month basis from 1955 to 1959

From 1955 to 1956 the Top Ten was created by evaluating the London percentage audience share - From 1957 onwards the top ten was based on how many homes were actually viewing the listed programmes. It wasn't until August 1977 that the figure shown was for individual viewers.
The TV charts are incomplete due to some loss of records (July/August 1956) but they are represented here as accurately as possible.
Sources: Television Audience Measurement (TAM) 1955 - 1968
Audits of Great Britain (AGB) 1968 - 1981

January 57

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Carroll Levis Discoveries	ITV	1.9
2	Double Your Money	ITV	1.9
3	Take Your Pick	ITV	1.8
4	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	1.8
5	Boyd Q.C.	ITV	1.7
6	My Wife's Sister	ITV	1.7
7	The 64,000 Question	ITV	1.6
8	Variety Star Time	ITV	1.6
9	Professional Boxing	ITV	1.6
10	The Trollenberg Terror	ITV	1.6

February 57

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	2.0
2	Armchair Theatre	ITV	2.0
3	Take Your Pick	ITV	2.0
4	Double Your Money	ITV	1.9
5	Carroll Levis Discoveries	ITV	1.8
6	Spot The Tune	ITV	1.8
7	The Jack Jackson Show	ITV	1.8
8	Chelsea Review	ITV	1.8
9	Jack Hylton Presents	ITV	1.7
10	Do You Trust Your Wife	ITV	1.7

March 57

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Armchair Theatre	ITV	2.2
2	Take Your Pick	ITV	2.1
3	Play of the Week	ITV	2.1
4	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	2.0
5	Double Your Money	ITV	2.0
6	Spot The Tune	ITV	2.0
7	Professional Boxing	ITV	1.9
8	The Robert Dherry Show	ITV	1.9
9	Saturday Spectacular	ITV	1.9
10	The Gentle Killers	ITV	1.9

April 57

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Jack Hylton Presents	ITV	2.2
2	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	2.2
3	Armchair Theatre	ITV	2.2
4	Double Your Money	ITV	2.1
5	Spot The Tune	ITV	2.0
6	Take Your Pick	ITV	2.0
7	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	2.0
8	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	1.9
9	The Gentle Killers	ITV	1.9
10	The Jack Jackson Show	ITV	1.8

May 57

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Take Your Pick	ITV	2.2
2	Flannagan & Allen	ITV	2.0
3	Play of the Week	ITV	2.0
4	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	2.0
5	Double Your Money	ITV	2.0
6	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	2.0
7	The Jack Jackson Show	ITV	2.0
8	Spot the Tune	ITV	2.0
9	The Gentle Killers	ITV	1.9
10	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	1.9

June 57

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Take Your Pick	ITV	2.1
2	Carroll Levis Discoveries	ITV	2.0
3	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	1.9
4	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	1.9
5	The Maltese Falcon	ITV	1.7
6	TV Playhouse	ITV	1.7
7	Saturday Spectacular	ITV	1.7
8	Startime	ITV	1.6
9	Jack Hylton Presents	ITV	1.6
10	Motive for Murder	ITV	1.6

July 57

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Criss Cross Quiz	ITV	2.0
2	Jump for Joy	ITV	2.0
3	Blackpool Night Out	ITV	1.9
4	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	1.9
5	Criss Cross Quiz	ITV	1.9
6	Personal Appearance	ITV	1.9
7	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	1.9
8	Army Game	ITV	1.9
9	Criss Cross Quiz	ITV	1.9
10	The Prime Minister	BBC/ITV	1.8

August 57

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Criss Cross Quiz	ITV	2.2
2	Not Wanted	ITV	2.1
3	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	2.0
4	Blackpool Night Out	ITV	1.9
5	Carroll Levis Discoveries	ITV	1.8
6	Saturday Spectacular	ITV	1.8
7	TV Playhouse	ITV	1.8
8	Beside the Seaside	ITV	1.8
9	Criss Cross Quiz	ITV	1.8
10	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	1.7

September 57

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Criss Cross Quiz	ITV	2.6
2	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	2.6
3	TV Playhouse	ITV	2.6
4	Blackpool Night Out	ITV	2.5
5	Play of the Week	ITV	2.4
6	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	2.4
7	Alexander Korda	ITV	2.3
8	Criss Cross Quiz	ITV	2.3
9	Saturday Spectacular	ITV	2.2
10	Shadow Squad	ITV	2.2

October 57

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Life With The Lyons	ITV	2.9
2	Criss Cross Quiz	ITV	2.8
3	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	2.8
4	Tell the Truth	ITV	2.7
5	TV Playhouse	ITV	2.7
6	Murder Bag	ITV	2.6
7	Armchair Theatre	ITV	2.6
8	Criss Cross Quiz	ITV	2.6
9	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	2.6
10	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	2.5

November 57

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Take Your Pick	ITV	3.2
2	The Prince of Wales Show	ITV	3.1
3	Emergency War 10	ITV	2.9
4	O.S.S.	ITV	2.9
5	Carroll Levis Discoveries	ITV	2.9
6	Startime	ITV	2.7
7	Double Your Money	ITV	2.6
8	TV Playhouse	ITV	2.6
9	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	2.6
10	Saturday Spectacular	ITV	2.5

December 57

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	ITV Playhouse	ITV	3.2
2	Take Your Pick	ITV	3.2
3	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	3.1
4	O.S.S.	ITV	3.1
5	Spot the Tune	ITV	3.0
6	Bid for Fame	ITV	3.0
7	Double Your Money	ITV	2.9
8	Alfred Marks Time	ITV	2.8
9	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	2.8
10	The Film Show	ITV	2.8

January 58

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Take Your Pick	ITV	3.8
2	Army Game	ITV	3.7
3	Play of the Week	ITV	3.7
4	TV Playhouse	ITV	3.6
5	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.6
6	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.5
7	Armchair Theatre	ITV	3.5
8	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	3.4
9	Double Your Money	ITV	3.3
10	Shadow Squad	ITV	3.0

February 58

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Take Your Pick	ITV	3.8
2	Army Game	ITV	3.8
3	TV Playhouse	ITV	3.6
4	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.6
5	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	3.6
6	Double Your Money	ITV	3.5
7	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.5
8	Shadow Squad	ITV	3.4
9	USSR Now	ITV	3.0
10	Armchair Theatre	ITV	2.8

March 58

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Take Your Pick	ITV	4.1
2	Army Game	ITV	4.1
3	Armchair Theatre	ITV	3.8
4	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.8
5	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	3.7
6	Double Your Money	ITV	3.6
7	TV Playhouse	ITV	3.6
8	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.5
9	Shadow Squad	ITV	3.1
10	Play of the Week	ITV	3.1

April 58

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	The Army Game	ITV	3.9
2	TV Playhouse	ITV	3.8
3	Professional Boxing	ITV	3.7
4	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.6
5	Val Parnell's Star Time	ITV	3.5
6	Criss Cross Quiz	ITV	3.5
7	Carroll Levis Show	ITV	3.5
8	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.5
9	Double Your Money	ITV	3.4
10	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	3.3

May 58

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Take Your Pick	ITV	3.6
2	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.5
3	Wagon Train	ITV	3.5
4	TV Playhouse	ITV	3.4
5	Criss Cross Quiz	ITV	3.4
6	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.3
7	Army Game	ITV	3.3
8	Double Your Money	ITV	3.2
9	Armchair Theatre	ITV	2.9
10	Shadow Squad	ITV	2.9

June 58

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Army Game	ITV	4.2
2	Wagon Train	ITV	4.0
3	Take Your Pick	ITV	3.9
4	TV Playhouse	ITV	3.8
5	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.4
6	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.4
7	Shadow Squad	ITV	3.3
8	Double Your Money	ITV	3.1
9	Criss Cross Quiz	ITV	3.0
10	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	2.9

July 58

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Wagon Train	ITV	3.9
2	Murder Bag	ITV	3.3
3	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.2
4	Jack Hylton Presents	ITV	3.2
5	TV Playhouse	ITV	3.1
6	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.1
7	My Wife and I	ITV	3.0
8	Val Parnell's Spectacular	ITV	2.9
9	Make Your Mind Up	ITV	2.8
10	The Verdict Is Yours	ITV	2.7

August 58

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Wagon Train	ITV	3.9
2	Murder Bag	ITV	3.3
3	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.1
4	Jubilee Show	ITV	3.1
5	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.0
6	Bernard Delfont Presents	ITV	2.9
7	TV Playhouse	ITV	2.9
8	Make Your Mind Up	ITV	2.8
9	Jack Hylton Presents	ITV	2.7
10	Jack Hylton's Thursday Show	ITV	2.6

September 58

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Wagon Train	ITV	4.1
2	Blackpool Tower Circus	ITV	3.9
3	Murder Bag	ITV	3.3
4	Val Parnell's Startime	ITV	3.3
5	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.3
6	Jubilee Show	ITV	3.2
7	Twenty One	ITV	3.2
8	Play of the Week	ITV	3.0
9	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	2.8
10	Jack Hylton Presents	ITV	2.7

October 58

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Wagon Train	ITV	4.6
2	Army Game	ITV	4.5
3	Double Your Money	ITV	4.5
4	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	4.4
5	Dotto	ITV	4.4
6	Val Parnell's Startime	ITV	4.3
7	TV Playhouse	ITV	4.3
8	Twenty One	ITV	4.3
9	Take Your Pick	ITV	4.2
10	Spot the Tune	ITV	4.2

November 58

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Dotto	ITV	4.9
2	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	4.8
3	Wagon Train	ITV	4.7
4	Army Game	ITV	4.6
5	Take Your Pick	ITV	4.3
6	TV Playhouse	ITV	3.9
7	Twenty One	ITV	3.9
8	Val Parnell's Spectacular	ITV	3.9
9	Spot the Tune	ITV	3.7
10	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.7

December 58

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	4.7
2	Wagon Train	ITV	4.6
3	Dotto	ITV	4.6
4	Spot the Tune	ITV	4.5
5	Twenty One	ITV	4.5
6	Army Gamee	ITV	4.5
7	Take Your Pick	ITV	4.3
8	TV Playhouse	ITV	4.2
9	Double Your Money	ITV	4.1
10	Val Parnell's Spectacular	ITV	3.8

January 59

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Wagon Train	ITV	5.3
2	Army Game	ITV	5.2
3	TV Playhouse	ITV	5.0
4	Spot the Tune	ITV	4.9
5	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	4.8
6	Take Your Pick	ITV	4.8
7	Dotto	ITV	4.8
8	Professional Boxing	ITV	4.4
9	Armchair Theatre	ITV	4.3
10	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	4.2

February 59

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Army Game	ITV	5.1
2	Wagon Train	ITV	5.1
3	Dotto	ITV	5.0
4	Spot the Tune	ITV	4.9
5	The Larkins	ITV	4.8
6	Take Your Pick	ITV	4.8
7	Saturday Spectacular	ITV	4.8
8	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	4.7
9	Double Your Money	ITV	4.7
10	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	4.5

March 59

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Army Game	ITV	5.1
2	Wagon Train	ITV	5.1
3	Double Your Money	ITV	4.9
4	Spot the Tune	ITV	4.9
5	Take Your Pick	ITV	4.6
6	TV Playhouse	ITV	4.6
7	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	4.5
8	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	4.4
9	The Larkins	ITV	4.4
10	Hippodrome	ITV	4.1

April 59

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Army Game	ITV	5.7
2	Wagon Train	ITV	5.3
3	Take Your Pick	ITV	5.1
4	Spot the Tune	ITV	4.9
5	Double Your Money	ITV	4.7
6	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	4.5
7	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	4.5
8	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	4.3
9	Criss Cross Quiz	ITV	4.2
10	Saturday Spectacular	ITV	4.1

May 59

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Wagon Train	ITV	5.4
2	Army Game	ITV	4.8
3	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	4.4
4	Hippodrome	ITV	4.3
5	Take Your Pick	ITV	4.2
6	Spot the Tune	ITV	4.2
7	Double Your Money	ITV	4.1
8	Play of the Week	ITV	4.0
9	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.8
10	The Jack Hylton Monday Show	ITV	3.7

June 59

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Wagon Train	ITV	5.0
2	Play of the Week	ITV	4.7
3	Army Game	ITV	4.5
4	Spot the Tune	ITV	4.3
5	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	4.2
6	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	4.1
7	Take Your Pick	ITV	4.1
8	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.9
9	Double Your Money	ITV	3.9
10	Take Your Pick	ITV	3.9

July 59

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Moscow State Circus	ITV	4.9
2	Wagon Train	ITV	4.9
3	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.9
4	TV Playhouse	ITV	3.9
5	Armchair Theatre	ITV	3.9
6	Crime Street	ITV	3.9
7	Concentration	ITV	3.9
8	Play of the Week	ITV	3.7
9	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.4
10	Concentration	ITV	3.4

August 59

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Wagon Train	ITV	5.1
2	Concentration	ITV	4.2
3	Sunday Variety	ITV	4.1
4	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	4.1
5	Concentration	ITV	3.8
6	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	3.6
7	The Big Steal	ITV	3.6
8	Play of the Week	ITV	3.5
9	Skyport	ITV	3.5
10	Armchair Theatre	ITV	3.4

September 59

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Wagon Train	ITV	5.4
2	Play of the Week	ITV	4.6
3	Circus Comes to Town	ITV	4.5
4	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	4.4
5	Eisenhower at Number Ten	ITV	4.4
6	Crime Street	ITV	4.3
7	Concentration	ITV	4.3
8	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	4.2
9	Bernard Delfont's Sunday Variety	ITV	4.2
10	Concentration	ITV	4.1

October 59

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Double Your Money	ITV	5.5
2	Dotto	ITV	5.5
3	Take Your Pick	ITV	5.3
4	Concentration	ITV	5.1
5	Probation Officer	ITV	4.9
6	Liberal Party	ITV	4.9
7	Wagon Train	ITV	4.8
8	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	4.8
9	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	4.8
10	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	4.8

November 59

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Wagon Train	ITV	5.9
2	Take Your Pick	ITV	5.6
3	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	5.4
4	Play of the Week	ITV	5.2
5	Saturday Spectacular	ITV	5.0
6	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	5.0
7	Concentration	ITV	4.9
8	Armchair Theatre	ITV	4.9
9	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	4.8
10	Probation Officer	ITV	4.7

December 59

Pos	Show	Ch.	Share
1	Wagon Train	ITV	6.1
2	Sunday Night at the London Palladium	ITV	5.9
3	Armchair Theatre	ITV	5.3
4	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	5.2
5	Concentration	ITV	5.2
6	Take Your Pick	ITV	5.1
7	Army Game	ITV	5.1
8	Knight Errant	ITV	5.0
9	Hippodrome	ITV	4.8
10	Emergency Ward 10	ITV	4.6