Viewers have urged the BBC to bring back Goodnight Sweetheart after the one-off return was deemed a huge success.
Nicholas Lyndhurst reprised his role as time traveller Gary Sparrow in Friday night’s revival of the British sitcom.
The special BBC1 episode – written by original creators Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran – beat the opposition in the ratings with 3.7 million viewers (19.5% share) and a peak of four million.
Gardeners’ World on BBC2 was watched by 2.4 million, Lady C And The Castle on ITV attracted 2.2 million and Eight Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown on Channel 4 got 1.6 million.
Young Hyacinth, a prequel to Keeping Up Appearances, which was broadcast straight after Goodnight Sweetheart, was watched by 3.4 million viewers, a peak of 3.5 million and a 17.8% share.
No decisions have yet been made about making a full series of the sitcom, commissioned as part of a season of one-off specials celebrating the heritage of BBC comedy.
Both shows received a warm response from fans following the return of Are You Being Served? which was panned by viewers, and Porridge.
Nicholas’s former co-star in Only Fools and Horses, John Challis, was among the viewers who enjoyed Goodnight Sweetheart.
John, who played Boycie in Only Fools and Horses, wrote on Twitter:
Good to see Nick Lyndhurst doing what he does best.#GoodnightSweetheart
— John Challis (@BeingBoycie) September 2, 2016
Comic Jason Manford also heaped praise on the episode.
Just caught up with #GoodnightSweetheart on BBC1. Would be surprised if that's not a full series soon. Nice to see 'em back.
— JasonManford (@JasonManford) September 3, 2016
Goodnight Sweetheart ran for six series on BBC One.
Nicholas last played Sparrow, a former TV repairman and accidental time traveller who leads an extraordinary double life, 17 years ago.
Other fans also called for the return of the show.
Oh that was wonderful. Like catching up with old friends. @bbccomedy please please please please PLEASE make more!!!! #GoodnightSweetheart
— Ben (@Benjysays) September 2, 2016
If the BBC don't commission a new series of #GoodnightSweetheart, they're crazy.
— Chuck Thomas (@chuckthomasuk) September 2, 2016
Viewers also praised the performance of Kerry Howard as a young Hyacinth in the prequel to Keeping Up Appearances.
Derren Litten, who wrote the return of Are You Being Served?, approved:
Thought @THEKERRYHOWARD was sensational in #YoungHyacinth – the show beautifully shot, gorgeous soundtrack, should have been on an hour.
— Derren Litten (@DerrenLitten) September 2, 2016
With some work here and there, that could be a cracking Sunday night comedy series #YoungHyacinth
— Guy Lambert (@GRALambo) September 2, 2016
wait is Kerry Howard actually Patricia Routledge from the past??? This is insane ððð #YoungHyacinth
— Ryan Love (@RyanJL) September 2, 2016
Earlier this year, Keeping Up Appearances’ star Patricia Routledge suggested that she was unimpressed with the idea of the corporation revisiting some of Britain’s best-loved TV series.
“Why are they doing this sort of thing?” the actress, 87, was quoted as saying. “They must be desperate.”
Kerry described her response as “sad”, saying: “I think she should be incredibly flattered that the BBC are paying homage to all these great shows.”
