Ed Chamberlin: I feared the worst for the Derby viewing figures

ITV Racing’s lead presenter Ed Chamberlin admitted he was fearing the worst for the Derby viewing figures as the broadcaster competed with a plethora of other sporting events on the warmest day of the year, only to feel relief at a peak audience of 1.75 million to see Anthony Van Dyck win the Epsom Classic.

That number was down slightly from last year’s 1.8 million, but ITV did enjoy an increase in peak audience share during that period to 21 per cent, from 20 per cent in 2018.

In a mixed set of numbers, however, the average viewing figure for this year's overall Derby day coverage was down nearly 15 per cent on 2018, from 935,000 to 796,999.

Despite his buoyancy, Chamberlin admitted criticism of ITV Racing's coverage, which he digested on a stop-off on the M3 as he headed home from Epsom, made him "tear his hair out".

As well as the Derby, Saturday's sporting feast included the Champions League final, the Cricket World Cup, the rugby union Premiership final, and an Anthony Joshua fight.

Anthony Van Dyck and Seamie Heffernan claim the 2019 DerbyCredit: Mark Cranham

"I feared the worst for Saturday," said Chamberlin on Sunday. "We didn’t have a whole lot to hang the Derby on in terms of narrative this year, it’s half term, and it’s probably the busiest Saturday of the sporting year. You only had to look at the morning newspapers to see where the Derby stood!

"So with all that considered, I was actually really pleased with the numbers we got, and we’ve held up very well against all those sporting giants.

"I want to knock it out of the park and get huge numbers. We threw the kitchen sink at that and we’ll continue to do so because we’re determined to put the Derby back where it deserves to be."

DERBY DAY PEAK AUDIENCES

2019 ITV 1.75m
2018 ITV 1.8m
2017 ITV 1.7m
2016 C4 1.4m
2015 C4 1.5m
2014 C4 1.6m
2013 C4 2.0m
2012 BBC 3.3m
2011 BBC 3.2m
2010 BBC 1.9m
2009 BBC 2.8m
2008 BBC 3.0m
2007 BBC 3.1m
2006 BBC 4.1m

The presenter spoke of his frustration at the criticism he and the rest of his team sometimes receive.

The fashion segments in ITV's coverage were a particular target on social media, but Chamberlin believes they are a key component in seeking to reach as wide an audience as possible.

He said: "You have to put up with a lot of negativity. I drove home on Saturday night and stopped off at the services on the M3. I had a quick read through everything that was being said, and it makes me tear my hair out.

"A lot of people have a go at our fashion segments, but those segments are very important as we try to attract the casual viewer. Mark Heyes and Charlotte Hawkins are brilliant at bringing the fun, colour and entertainment at the racecourse to people's living rooms. So many people in racing want to knock it. I don't understand it."

Chamberlin defended criticism of fellow host Chris Hughes. He said: "What an impressive guy he is. He absolutely loves it, and he ended up tipping the Oaks winner! All he wants to do is talk about racing.

"We set out to broaden racing's audience and bring in the casual viewer, and what these guys do is brilliant for racing."

Oaks day

ITV's coverage enjoyed a boost in viewership across the board for Oaks day on Friday with peak audience hitting 898,000, up from 864,000 in 2018, while the average viewing number rose to 591,000 from 558,000.

Chamberlin said: "It’s not just sport, but across television that viewing figures are declining. Television audiences, and in particular sport, are in the decline but racing is bucking that. We’re up on our 2018 figures, which in my opinion is totally against every television and sporting trend going at the moment."

Ed Chamberlin and ITV Racing programme director Paul McNamara celebrate last year's Bafta successCredit: Jamie Simons (Shutterstock)

From Anfield to Epsom

Presenting the Derby was described as a "two earpieces" event for Chamberlin, who said: "It was an extraordinary experience to present, from starting the day on stilts to the show itself.

"It’s the one day where I have to put in two earpieces because of the noise from the crowd – the only other time I had to do that was when I used to present on the pitch at Old Trafford and Anfield.

"I want racing to be successful on ITV, but I absolutely love the Derby and want it to keep getting bigger and bigger. That figure, while not being an absolute knockout, I’m very pleased with, and now it’s onwards to Royal Ascot!"

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