Arsenal Triumph Over Brits

More than 5.3 million adults on average tuned in to see Arsenal’s gripping extra time victory away to Bolton last night, giving BBC One a 24.7% viewing share between 8pm and 10pm.

As the Gunners shot into the last 16 of the FA Cup, 4.6 million adults on average watched Russell Brand host the Brit Awards, which were screened live for the first time since 1989.

ITV1 took a 21.3% audience share for the programme, which followed on from Coronation Street, which gained 9.2 million, or 44.6% of the TV viewing audience between 7.30pm and 8pm.

BBC Two’s new series of entrepreneurial reality show, Dragon’s Den, netted almost 2.8 million viewers (12.8%), before parliamentary drama Party Animals took around one million (5%) during the Brits and the football.

Russell Brand had less luck starring in new ITV1 comedy drama, The Abbey. The first episode of the show, which focuses on a rehab centre for sick celebs, was aired between 10pm and 10.30pm, and was seen by two million adults on average, 10% of the TV viewing audience at the time.

Never Mind The Buzzcocks on BBC Two had more luck, as 2.2 million adults tuned in to witness Ordinary Boys frontman and former Big Brother contestant, Preston, storm off the set after jibes from host Simon Amstell.

Channel 4 scored on Valentines night, with couples cosying up for new episodes of Relocation, Relocation and Jamie’s Chef. An average of around 3.2 million (15%) saw Kirstie and Phil endeavour to make dreams reality for potential homeowners, whilst 2.7 million (12.6%) joined Mr Oliver and Co.

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.

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