Three million turn on to see finale of cult TV series '24'

The finale of the cult TV thriller 24 failed to translate the obsessive dedication of its audience into a big ratings success, despite being hailed as one of the BBC's most original offerings for years.

The American series, which ended on BBC2 on Sunday, became a broadcasting sensation, with internet chatrooms and broadsheet newspaper articles dissecting every twist in the 24 hour-long episodes. But the climax attracted only 2.9 million viewers – the same as at the start back in March.

The "real-time" show, starring Kiefer Sutherland, has been one of the most talked-about shows since another American import, Twin Peaks, but the ratings prove it did not succeed in penetrating a wider television market. The plot followed an American secret service agency's attempts to foil an assassination attempt on a black presidential candidate on the day of a crucial primary ballot. The assassins capture the wife and daughter of Jack Bauer, an agent, engulfing his personal life in the crisis.

One of the last deaths in the final episode was caught on CCTV. The critic David Thomson wrote in The Independent: "When the killer gazes up at the camera it's as if those eyes have seen the back wall of our soul."

The series attracted obsessive fans, who discussed storylines and characters on chatlines. Although the series ended weeks ago in America, British newspapers keen not to spoil the ending warned readers not to read specific paragraphs in articles about the show. The BBC even ring-fenced part of its 24 website for users who wanted to discuss the finale, to stop others stumbling on a key fact.

Though viewing figures for the finale seemed low, its share of 16 per cent of viewers was well above average for BBC2 for the time of day. Another cult US import, The West Wing, also ended on Sunday but with only a third of 24's audience.