The BBC and HBO’s new adaptation of Philip Pullman’s book series debuted well…

The first episode of the Beeb’s new adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials book series went down a treat in the UK, scoring 7.2 million viewers, but ratings plunged as the second instalment arrived this past Sunday.

Deadline confirms BARB figures have revealed that the second episode of His Dark Materials, written by Jack Thorne, was watched by 5.7 million viewers in its 8pm time slot on 10th November, down 1.5 million.

5.7 million people is still an awful lot, and doesn’t take into account catch-up and on-demand figures, so the BBC needn’t worry too much about the fate of His Dark Materials just yet!

Dafne Keen takes on the lead role of Lyra, the young protagonist of the story who lives in Jordan College, Oxford. Placed there at the request of her Uncle, Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) she lives a sheltered life amongst the scholars and college staff while under the watchful protection of The Master (Clarke Peters) and Librarian Scholar Charles (Ian Gelder).

When the glamorous and mesmeric Mrs Coulter (Ruth Wilson) enters Lyra’s life she embarks upon a dangerous journey of discovery from Oxford to London. Here she meets Father MacPhail (Will Keen), Lord Boreal (Ariyon Bakare) and journalist Adele Starminster (Georgina Campbell) at a glittering society party where she first hears about the sinister General Oblation Board.

Lyra is subsequently thrown into the nomadic world of the boat dwelling Gyptians – Ma Costa (Anne-Marie Duff), Farder Coram (James Cosmo), John Faa (Lucian Msamati), Raymond Van Geritt (Mat Fraser), Jack Verhoeven (Geoff Bell) and Benjamin de Ruyter (Simon Manyonda) who take her North in her quest.

Once in the North she meets charismatic aeronaut and adventurer Lee Scoresby (Lin-Manuel Miranda) who joins them on their epic journey and who becomes one of Lyra’s closest allies.

The show continues on Sunday nights on BBC One.