Ratings success for Greatest Scot

AROUND 400,000 people tuned in last night to a programme broadcast by STV to decide the ‘most important, influential and popular Scot of all time’.

Last night’s final of The Greatest Scot ended with poet, Robert Burns, being chosen.

The programme, presented by STV’s Stephen Jardine, attracted a 20 per cent audience share and outperformed what was being shown on the ITV1 network elsewhere in the UK by five per cent.

The Greatest Scot had originally caused controversy, early last month, when build-up episodes were broadcast against a blockbuster car crash drama, Collision.

Last night, the final was pitted against Tonight, which STV showed later on. The search by STV was done in association with the Daily Record newspaper.

The runners-up to Burns were William Wallace, Alexander Fleming, Jock Stein and David Tennant.

Says Alan Clements, director of Content at STV: “The search for our all-time favourite Scot has been a fantastic event and I’m sure the shortlist of nominees has caused much debate and discussion in Scotland and beyond. I’m thrilled that Robert Burns won the public vote in the end, he is a Scottish icon and is absolutely worthy of the title ‘Greatest Scot’.”