• Jim Chalmers delivers a surplus in the Federal Budget
Total TV Ratings, May 2
Nine’s Lego Masters Grand Masters saw 957,000 households settle in for a night of tiny brick building. During the episode, the teams faced their own individual sheer cliff face wall and were challenged with creating a vertical build, pushing the bricks to the limit. Up 32%.
Seven’s Home and Away came in next as Felicity maintained vigilance over Kahu while Mackenzie’s business advice began to get a little steamy. 925,000 tuned in, up 22%.
605,000 tuned in for ABC’s Who Do You Think You Are, which was dedicated to the late, great Barry Humphries. Before his death, the entertainer journeyed back to 18th Century England to discover how a royal scandal intersected with his ancestor, a humble, rural grocer, up 26%.
Overnight TV Ratings, May 9
Once again, Seven has won the night with a primary share of 21.5% and a network share of 29.4%. 7Two has won multichannels with a 3.2% share.
499,000 began their evening in Summer Bay with Seven’s Home and Away. The drama continued when Andrew’s origins began to unravel and Eden refused to accept Cash’s helping hand. All-time favourite Alf found himself a “secret weapon” in the fight against Stunning Organics. Then on Farmer Wants a Wife, it was absolute chaos in the “big smoke” when the remaining Ladies and their Farmers got dolled up for the Black Tie Ball. 552,000 watched the women spiral and turn on each other. Annabelle asked Olivia about the secret alone time she was having with Farmer Matt and when Olivia found it all too much and walked out, he followed her, causing Annabelle to question whether she wanted to be there, leaving the dinner in tears.
Nine’s A Current Affair (615,000) spoke with Reverend Bill Crews who went to Canberra ahead of the federal budget to plead on behalf of desperate Aussies amid the cost of living crisis, and told the story of a Melbourne barrister’s win against Qantas after publicly announcing he’s taking them to court over unpaid flight credits. Then 278,000 tuned into Frozen Planet II. In this double episode, Our Frozen Planet and Out in the Cold, the series investigated the frozen worlds that have reached a tipping point. As their future hangs in the balance, so does ours.
On 10, The Project (307,000 7pm) welcomed comedian Melanie Bracewell to the desk. The team also investigated a new report which has laid bare just how bad our youth mental health crisis has become, and to make it worse, children are finding it almost impossible to get help. Mental health advocate Melis Layik joined the desk before news about legendary singer John Farnham was revealed. He is recovering after a chest infection saw him admitted to hospital, just months after he had surgery for mouth cancer. Then, on MasterChef Australia, there was a catch to the flavour bombs that Jamie Oliver had left behind for the contestants to cook with — they would only be revealed 15 minutes into the cook and must be included in the dish! 497,000 tuned in to see the home cooks master some pretty fabulous dishes. The third season of The Cheap Seats then made its debut, giving 365,000 the giggles.
On the ABC, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down his second budget, announcing the first surplus in 15 years. The Treasurer’s speech took the place of 7.30 for the evening, bringing in 451,000 viewers before the ABC news special saw Chalmers and Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor join David Speers for 341,000 viewers. A special edition of Insiders rounded out primetime coverage, dissecting the winners and losers of the budget for 253,000.