THE Salisbury Poisonings was the most watched BBC drama since 2018's Bodyguard, the BBC has revealed.

Episode one of the three-part series has received a seven-day consolidated figure of 10 million viewers (43.7 percent share), making it the biggest new drama across all channels since 2018.

All-screen +7days data also reveals the episode has attracted 10.3 million viewers to date.

The BBC One drama, written by Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn and produced by Dancing Ledge Productions, focuses on the impact the Novichok poisonings had on the local community.

It tells the story of how ordinary people and public services reacted to a crisis on their doorstep, displaying extraordinary heroism as their city became the focus of an unprecedented national emergency.

The three-part drama, which aired on June 14, 15 and 16 but can now be watched on BBC iPlayer, has averaged a seven-day consolidated figure of 9.1 million viewers and averaged an all-screen +7day figure of 9.6 million.

It has also attracted around 1 million 16 to 34 year-olds for each episode so far (according to seven-day consolidated data).

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, said: “We are delighted The Salisbury Poisonings had such an impact and resonated with the nation. We are incredibly proud to have celebrated members of a city whose bravery and resilience kept safe an entire community, and can’t thank Adam, Declan and the production team enough for their meticulous efforts in bringing their story to screen.”

Laurence Bowen, Dancing Ledge Productions CEO, added: “We're thrilled The Salisbury Poisonings has had such a positive response. It was a privilege to be able to tell the extraordinary real-life stories that lie at the heart of the drama and wonderful they have resonated in the way they have.”