UK Ratings of US and UK TV Drama's

1. Identify TV Drama’s which achieved the highest viewer ratings

British Drama: Doctor Who (11.57 Million)
American Drama: Glee and CSI (1.1 Million)

2. By researching reviews and awards, or from your own viewing experience, explain why you think some TV Drama’s got higher viewer ratings than others.

The highest viewer rating UK drama on my list was Doctor Who. The series is very well known by all generations as it has been running on and off since 1963 and been through ten doctors and over ten sidekicks. It has something for all ages and it is a very Britain focused Drama which makes it more interesting for British viewers as they can relate to some of the scenes. One review of the 27th December 2009 episode (where David Tennant, the tenth Doctor dies and regenerates into Matt Smith, the new doctor) was from the Telegraph:
“Witty, infectious and wearing its heart on its sleeve, this was a barnstorming hour of family entertainment.” – Andrew Pettie.
Some of the awards given to Doctor who in the last four years are as follows:
- Tennant won Best Actor (2006)
- Piper won Best Actress (2006)
- Doctor Who won Best-Loved Drama (2006)
Edinburgh Television Festival voted Doctor Who as the best program of the year in 2007 and in 2008

The highest viewer rating US drama on my list was CSI and Glee. Glee is newer, only airing in January 2010 so I will expand on this Drama. The Drama was quite well received in the UK, being one of the highest in viewer ratings along with CSI. Glee is about a singing club made up of misfits, the high school is American and so has the relevant stereotype American clubs like the cheerleaders (cherios), American football team and so on. The members of these other clubs start joining the Glee club in later episodes for various reasons but shows that the teenagers are breaking out of their stereotypes. One review of the first episode when it was released in Britain is as follows:
“Practically every character is a cliché – the bullying games teacher, the picked-on camp kid, and the budget-fixated head – but then that's the whole point, and it's written, performed and directed with the same zest as if it were all in earnest.” – Brain Viner.
Glee has not had any awards in the UK because it is so new, but in America is has been given a variety of awards including: “Favorite New TV Comedy”, "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series", and the “Diversity Award”