07/12/2009
Small Island Steps Up A Gear
A major dramatisation of Andrea Levy's bestselling novel has made a dent in the ratings for BBC1.
Small Island gave Jeremy Clarkson's Top Gear (pictured) a good run for its money in the race to the top slot, drawing in 5m viewers to BBC1 between 9pm and 10.30pm. However it wasn't quite enough to overtake Top Gear to the finish line.
Starting slightly earlier at 8.30pm, this week's Top Gear - filmed entirely in Northern Ireland - managed to keep its head start over the BBC1 drama, with 5.4m up to 9.30pm.
Top Gear had a noticeable increase in viewers on the hour, with figures jumping from 5.2m at 8.55pm, to 6m at 9pm.
However Small Island - set in London and Jamaica - didn't completely lose out, as the steady viewing figures throughout meant the final 45-minutes won out over other terrestrials.
Adapted from Andrea Levy's best-selling award-winning novel, Small Island is an epic love story about the determined pursuit of dreams in the face of seemingly insurmountable barriers.
Filmed on location in Northern Ireland and in the Caribbean, Small Island is set against the backdrop of the Second World War in a time when landlords put up signs that read 'No Irish, no coloureds, no dogs'.
Starring Naomie Harris (Pirates of the Caribbean), David Oyelowo (The Last King of Scotland), Ruth Wilson (Jane Eyre) and Benedict Cumberbatch, Small Island is a Ruby Television production in association with AL Films for BBC One, co-produced with WGBH and made with the assistance of Northern Ireland Screen.
See: Portaferry Excels In War-Time Role
(BMcN/BMcc)
Small Island gave Jeremy Clarkson's Top Gear (pictured) a good run for its money in the race to the top slot, drawing in 5m viewers to BBC1 between 9pm and 10.30pm. However it wasn't quite enough to overtake Top Gear to the finish line.
Starting slightly earlier at 8.30pm, this week's Top Gear - filmed entirely in Northern Ireland - managed to keep its head start over the BBC1 drama, with 5.4m up to 9.30pm.
Top Gear had a noticeable increase in viewers on the hour, with figures jumping from 5.2m at 8.55pm, to 6m at 9pm.
However Small Island - set in London and Jamaica - didn't completely lose out, as the steady viewing figures throughout meant the final 45-minutes won out over other terrestrials.
Adapted from Andrea Levy's best-selling award-winning novel, Small Island is an epic love story about the determined pursuit of dreams in the face of seemingly insurmountable barriers.
Filmed on location in Northern Ireland and in the Caribbean, Small Island is set against the backdrop of the Second World War in a time when landlords put up signs that read 'No Irish, no coloureds, no dogs'.
Starring Naomie Harris (Pirates of the Caribbean), David Oyelowo (The Last King of Scotland), Ruth Wilson (Jane Eyre) and Benedict Cumberbatch, Small Island is a Ruby Television production in association with AL Films for BBC One, co-produced with WGBH and made with the assistance of Northern Ireland Screen.
See: Portaferry Excels In War-Time Role
(BMcN/BMcc)
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14 October 2025
First Asian Hornet Sighting Confirmed In Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has confirmed the first confirmed sighting of an Asian Hornet in Northern Ireland. The insect, also known as the Yellow-legged hornet, was captured by a member of the public in the Dundonald area of Belfast on Friday, 10 October.
First Asian Hornet Sighting Confirmed In Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has confirmed the first confirmed sighting of an Asian Hornet in Northern Ireland. The insect, also known as the Yellow-legged hornet, was captured by a member of the public in the Dundonald area of Belfast on Friday, 10 October.
07 February 2025
Minister Launch Joint Creative Connections Programme
Education Minister Paul Givan and Ireland's Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee, have launched Creative Connections, a new pilot programme that will see schools in Northern Ireland and Ireland collaborate on creative learning projects.
Minister Launch Joint Creative Connections Programme
Education Minister Paul Givan and Ireland's Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee, have launched Creative Connections, a new pilot programme that will see schools in Northern Ireland and Ireland collaborate on creative learning projects.
08 October 2024
DAERA Funds Peatland Restoration Projects
The Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced the recipients of grant funding for peatland restoration projects. Five nonprofit organisations in Northern Ireland and the border region have been awarded a total of £2.7 million to address the degradation of peatlands and their contribution to climate change.
DAERA Funds Peatland Restoration Projects
The Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced the recipients of grant funding for peatland restoration projects. Five nonprofit organisations in Northern Ireland and the border region have been awarded a total of £2.7 million to address the degradation of peatlands and their contribution to climate change.
20 September 2012
Stormont Health Trip To Cuba
Representatives from Stormont's health committee are to visit Cuba to observe its health care system, the BBC has reported. The Caribbean island, famous for its communist government which has endured until the present day, is often cited as a standard-setter in international health care.
Stormont Health Trip To Cuba
Representatives from Stormont's health committee are to visit Cuba to observe its health care system, the BBC has reported. The Caribbean island, famous for its communist government which has endured until the present day, is often cited as a standard-setter in international health care.
05 December 2006
Woman dies in County Fermanagh collision
One woman has died and three others have been injured in a road traffic collision in County Fermanagh earlier today. The incident happened on the Boa Island Road area of Kesh, when the car which the woman was driving, was in collision with a van.
Woman dies in County Fermanagh collision
One woman has died and three others have been injured in a road traffic collision in County Fermanagh earlier today. The incident happened on the Boa Island Road area of Kesh, when the car which the woman was driving, was in collision with a van.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.