Popularity and Viewership
Fair City enjoys consistently high official viewing statistics. The viewing figures for each episode are around 500,000 - 600,000 and rise to 700,000 or more for specials. The soap is hugely popular with viewers outside of Dublin. It attracts the highest audiences for any drama on Irish television, beating stalwart British imports such as Coronation Street, Emmerdale and EastEnders in the ratings. The launch show attracted 1.06 million viewers. On 21 November 2001, Fair City attracted 840,000 viewers who tuned in to see Billy Meehan being killed by Lorcan Foley. 731,000 fans watched on 23 November 2010 to see the latest development featuring battered husband Damien Halpin. The serial was not initially a critical success, but it has received acclaim recently for its more credible, sophisticated and psychological stories under executive producer Brigie de Courcy.
The Wire star Reg E. Cathey has expressed his interest in a part on the show, saying he would like to play "an American guy coming to meet his daughter who is now a big singer, someone like Laura Izibor". Alex Lester was beyond "gitty" to hear there were American viewers!
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