Ratings: 'The White Queen' finale rises to 3.5m on Sunday

The White Queen climbed back up in the ratings for its finale episode on Sunday (August 18), overnight data reveals.



The period drama gained back almost 400,000 viewers, attracting 3.50 million (15.8%) at 9pm on BBC One.

Earlier on Sunday, Countryfile once again topped the ratings with 5.61m (30.1%) at 7pm, followed by Antiques Roadshow with 5.55m (25.9%) at 8pm.

On BBC Two, Dragons' Den dipped by 100k viewers to 2.86m (13.3%) at 8pm. The Hairy Bikers' Restoration Road Trip interested 1.93m (8.7%) at 9pm.

ITV's Tipping Point entertained 3.00m (16.2%) at 7pm (235k/1.1% on +1), while Martin Clunes's Heavy Horsepower appealed to 1.60m (7.5%) at 8pm (207k/0.9%).

Law & Order: UK's finale lost almost 100k to 3.93m (17.7%) at 9pm (344k/2.1%).

On Channel 4, The Mill came to an end by holding steady at 1.94m (9.0%) at 8pm (201k/0.9%). Southcliffe's final episode dropped to 977k (4.4%) at 9pm (199k/1.2%).

On Channel 5, Once Upon a Time brought in 844k (3.9%) at 8pm (106k/0.5%). Big Brother continued with 1.26m (5.7%) at 9pm (164k/1.0%).

BBC Three topped the multichannels with the latest Family Guy episodes at 10pm (1.05m/5.6%) and 10.25pm (967k/6.4%).

'The White Queen' ditched by BBC

The White Queen will not be returning for a second series on the BBC, it has been confirmed.

In a statement to Broadcast, the BBC insisted that the show was always planned as a one-off series.

"The White Queen will not be returning, but it is important to note that it was never actually conceived as a returnable series," said the BBC.

The 10-part series was based on Philippa Gregory's novel The Cousin's War. Although the BBC are denying that they ever intended to make a second series, it was previously rumoured that the broadcaster was hoping to do a follow-up based on Gregory's The White Princess if the series was a success.

Max Irons, newcomer Rebecca Ferguson, Aneurin Barnard, Janet McTeer and James Frain were among the show's cast.

The show got a mixed response from critics when it launched and has been criticised heavily for its historical inaccuracies.

Series one of The White Queen concluded on BBC One on Sunday night (August 18) with an audience of 3.5 million.

The White Queen launched earlier this month in the US on Starz.

The BBC's epic period drama The White Queen​ WILL be getting a sequel. Just not on the BBC.

US network Starz has picked up The White Princess​, a follow-up to the award-winning series starring Rebecca Ferguson as ​Elizabeth Woodville.

Based on Philippa Gregory's novel of the same name, the drama centres on the War of the Roses as told from Elizabeth's perspective. Set in 1485, it follows the rise of the House of Tudor and the tricky marriage between Princess Elizabeth of York and King Henry Tudor.

Writer Emma Frost returns as showrunner for the eight-episode project, but the BBC will not be involved in the production. The original series premiered on Starz in the US following its BBC One broadcast in the UK.

"The White Queen was a phenomenal performer at Starz," said its managing director Carmi Zlotnik. "There is a dearth of programming that tells women's stories and The White Queen was embraced with great success by audiences worldwide.

"The passionate fanbase for Philippa Gregory's historical novels are undeniable, and we are confident The White Princess will become the next must-see fandom drama series."

The White Queen​ was nominated for four Emmys and three Golden Globes.

Casting has yet to be announced, and it has not been confirmed whether any of the original stars will return. Rebecca Ferguson and Max Irons played the lead roles in the first run.

​The show got a mixed response from critics in the UK when it launched and has been criticised heavily for its historical inaccuracies.

BBC won't air The White Queen sequel planned by US broadcaster Starz

We already knew the BBC wasn't involved in production on the new sequel to The White Queen, and now it's been confirmed that the show won't air on the channel either.

US network Starz recently picked up The White Princess, a follow-up to the award-winning series starring Rebecca Ferguson as Elizabeth Woodville.

A spokesperson told RadioTimes.com that the BBC 'won't be showing it when it's ready to air'.

It has yet to be confirmed whether the new series will air in the UK on a different channel.