Frankie fever: ITV records highest peak figure at Royal Ascot in seven years

Frankie Dettori's magnificent four-timer at Ascot on Thursday helped ITV post its highest peak viewing figures for any day at Royal Ascot for seven years.

More than 1.4 million people tuned in to watch the action on a day the channel's host Ed Chamberlin described as one "he'll never forget".

An average of 962,000 viewers watched the coverage – almost 600,000 more than last year when Gold Cup day was shown on ITV4 owing to the football World Cup coverage.

Stradivarius's Gold cup victory was the fourth consecutive winner on the day for the popular and infectious Dettori, who was agonisingly denied a five-timer aboard Turgenev in the Britannia.

Gold Cup day figures

YearPeak Average Share

2019 1,402,000 962,000 13.9%
2018 (ITV4) 601,000 366,000 4.9%
2017 1,366,000 968,000 13.3%
2016 (C4) 751,000 433,000 3.8%

Chamberlin said: "We're delighted with the viewing figures – it's pretty cool! I'm not that surprised as word would have got out on what Frankie was doing during the afternoon and it was one of the most special days of television I've ever been involved in.

"The place was absolutely buzzing, it was fantastic! Everyone got caught up in the wave and I hope everyone enjoyed it at home.

"It brought out plenty of emotion – Johnny [Murtagh] was in tears. The feature that Brough Scott did on the Queen had us going too and it was a day I'll never forget. It doesn't feel like a job at all – it's a labour of love."

Ed Chamberlin (right) and Francesca Cumani lead ITV's Royal Ascot coverage

Southampton fan Chamberlin worked for Sky for 16 years, presenting coverage from crucial Champions League and Premier League fixtures, but feels the atmosphere at Ascot on Gold Cup day was unique in comparison.

He added: "It's a completely different atmosphere to presenting at a football match. Here you have the royals, the pageantry, pomp and fashion, which you don’t really get at Old Trafford and Anfield.

"I love both and the big football occasions are fantastic but this is something completely different. Royal Ascot is quintessentially British and what we do best. It’s unbeatable. Frankie lit this place up and the Flat season needed that yesterday. It feels like it's taken off."

Chamberlin's colleague Oli Bell enjoyed a memorable day when witnessing his uncle Michael's star Big Orange land the Gold Cup two years ago and on Thursday he was tasked with getting quickfire reaction from Dettori on the track.

Bell said: "It was incredibly special interviewing Bryony Frost after Frodon won at Cheltenham and Thursday was on a par. The atmosphere under the tunnel was unbelievable and I just feel lucky to do the job I do.

"I'm so pleased there has been so many people watching the coverage and The Opening Show has done really well compared to last year.

"For people looking into sport, and maybe watching for the first time, they were hopefully able to see what we witness regularly in terms of the excitement, drama and buzz this great sport brings."

ITV's audience share of 13.9 per cent on Thursday was also a record for any day at the meeting since 2012 – when the meeting was last broadcast on the BBC.

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