News Headline
Crime, sports and ‘political conflict’ rule in British homes
LONDON: Even as the Indian channels are gearing up to showcase crime thrillers, ITV1’s police thriller Blue Murder has edged out BBC’s political drama State of Play in the UK.
The first episode of the two-part series Blue Murder notched up 8.4 million viewers and an audience share of 37 per cent even as BBC’s State of Play gathered 5.2 million viewers with an audience share of 22 per cent.
A Guardian report, however, adds that Blue Murder did inherit 8.9 million viewers from Heartbeat; while State of Play inherited only 5.7 million from BBC1’s Born and Bred.
Sports also ruled the roost in the ratings game. Arsenal’s victory over Southampton attracted the BBC’s best FA Cup Final viewing figures for three years: the audience on BBC1 peaked at 9.6 million with an average of 8.3 million viewers watching the game.
Television audiences for the Cup final have been declining with last year’s Arsenal-Chelsea game hitting a record low at around 6 million viewers.
Media reports indicate that the rise in viewing figures may also influence the BBC’s bid for the next FA Cup and England rights contract which is due to be submitted by the end of May.
ITV1’s live coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix (Sunday, 18 May) in which Michael Schumacher survived a pit lane fire and went on to win the race, attracted a big audience. The F1: Austrian Grand Prix was watched by 3.5 million viewers and attracted a 35 per cent audience share between 12 noon and 3.05 pm.
It beat BBC1 programmes including The Politics Show, which attracted 1 million viewers, and the EastEnders omnibus, which was watched by 2.9 million.
BBC2 broadcast a correspondent investigation named War Spin (7:15 pm onwards) which was watched by 1.3 million viewers. The feature looked at the real story of Private Jessica Lynch’s rescue during the Iraqi war and how it was spun by the US military.
In the 9 pm slot, Channel 4 ran a dispatches documentary, Gaza, which was watched by 900,000 viewers. Gaza features reporter Sandra Jordan who set out to cover the ongoing hostilities between the Israeli army and the Palestinians and ended up documenting the shooting of Britons Tom Hurndall and cameraman James Miller.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
