Figures down for episode two of Love/Hate

This represents a 52pc share of the available audience for RTE.

However, this was some 124,400 less than watched the first episode of the hit crime drama.

It came back with a bang after 976,400 viewers were left gripped by the inaugural outing, which saw ruthless assassin Lizzie being shot in the head. Episode two also had an average of 39,000 viewers watching it on RTE One +1.

The second episode of series four had an average of 880,000 and a 50pc share, meaning last Sunday's episode is up 2pc on last year.

A night of high drama, last Sunday's show saw Fran finally finding out the truth about who fire-bombed his home, resulting in wife Linda eventually taking her own life after receiving facial scarring.

The show has been one of the most popular on RTE in recent years, with a million people tuning into the final episode of series four.

Leading man Peter Coonan said how he reckoned the season had started on a strong footing and would continue going from strength to strength.

"The show is going to be great. That opening episode, I watched it with everyone else. It was amazing, I thought it was one of the best episodes we've aired so far," he said.

BRILLIANT

"I thought the quality, the standard was brilliant. It can be difficult to start off a series, because you have to introduce new characters and set up the storyline for what it's going to be this year.

"But I think there's loads of interesting things there and I think people were going to be very happy."

Coonan, who's currently starring in Brendan Behan's Borstal Boy at the Gaiety Theatre, also admitted he would be thrilled if fans came to see the play on the back of Love/Hate's success.

mfinn@herald.ie