Catherine Tate comedy continues to struggle

Catherine Tate’s new sitcom Queen Of Oz has now shed more than 70 per cent of its audience. 

The opening episode of the comedy – in which she plays an errant minor royal shipped off to Australia – attracted 1.4million viewers last month.

But last Friday’s fourth instalment was seen by just 390,000 people – a massive 38 per cent down on the opener.

However, much of the loss may be attributed to the show being shunted to BBC Two to make way for Wimbledon coverage, Similarly, Lee Mack sitcom Not Going Out which precedes it, has also lost viewers, with 1.1million tuning in, compare to an impressive 2million viewers for the opening episode of its 13th series two weeks ago. However the comedy still won the timeslot over all other channels, including ITV’s Riches, which was seen by 830,000.

These are figures for viewer who watched as it went out – as reported by trade website Broadcast based on figures from overnights.tv – and does not incorporate catch-up viewing. All six episodes of Queen Of Oz  are available as an iPlayer boxset.  

The show has not been loved by critics.

It received a one-star review from the Daily Telegraph’s Anita Singh calling it ‘desperate and lazy,’ while Chortle dismissed the concept as ‘a rude woman shouting’.  In a two-star review the i said ‘it can be difficult to muster enthusiasm for Georgie’s plight’ as Tate’s alter-ego is ‘ quite awful, but in a relentless way that’s seemingly detached from any sympathetic motive’. 

The Guardian was among the kindest with Lucy Mangan awarding three stars and calling it ‘extraordinary watchable’ if not ‘spectacularly funny’

» Chortle’s Queen Of Oz review.

UPDATED 13/7 to reflect the fact the episode had been moved to BBC Two because of Wimbledon

Published: 12 Jul 2023