ITV1’s Got A Ratings Winner

The final days of Simon Cowell’s new reality style contest, Britain’s Got Talent, proved a huge hit for ITV1 over the weekend, with the final pulling in an average adult audience of more than 9.5 million and 9.7 million for last night’s two shows respectively.

Friday’s show netted an average of more than 7.7 million (a 36% viewing share), whilst Saturday’s took around 7.5 million (38.8%). However it was the final that was the biggest draw card for viewers.

The first show gained the channel a 41.4% share and the second attracted a 42.8% share as millions tuned in to see opera singer Paul Potts win the coveted prize of a chance of singing in front of the Queen.

Max Beesley’s new drama, Talk To Me, also proved to be a hit for ITV1 last night, with the web of relationship lies and deceit luring an average adult audience of more than five million (21%) before the Britain’s Got Talent results show at 10pm.

However, it was David Dimbleby’s exploration of How We Built Britain, from the rugged crofter’s cottages of the outer Hebrides to the unconventionality of Holyrood, that won the 9pm to 10pm timeslot last night.

Almost 5.3 million adults (22%) tuned in to the fascinating series, whilst over on Channel 4, Big Brother gained just short of 2.7 million (an 11.2% share).

Earlier in the day, Lewis Hamilton’s continuing rise to sports superstardom was witnessed by around 4.9 million adults on average, giving ITV1 a 32.2% audience share between 5pm and 8pm as the youngster raced to another victory at the US Grand Prix.

BBC Two’s best programme of Sunday evening proved to be Coast, which gained the channel almost 3.2 million adult viewers, or a 14% share between 8pm and 9pm.

Overnight data is available each morning in mediatel.co.uk’s TV Database, with all BARB registered subscribers able to view reports for terrestrial networks, ITV2 and Sky One.

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk Channel 4: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com