Overnights: BBC One’s new war drama kicks-off with a bang

BBC One’s new war drama starring James Nesbitt started with a bang last night, securing a high of 4.4 million viewers during the all-important 9pm to 10pm peak slot.

The first episode in the three-part drama, Occupation, about the lives of three friends and soldiers during the British forces’ five-year occupation of Iraq and its aftermath, attracted 4.2 million average viewers and a 20% audience share.

Elsewhere, Five’s ratings-winner CSI:Crime Scene Investigation banked 2.8 million peak viewers and an impressive 12.6% share between 9pm and 10pm.

At the same time, ITV1’s Ladette to Lady pulled in 2.4 million peak viewers and a 11.1% share, which pushed it ahead of BBC Two’s popular Mary, Queen of Charity Shops.

The last in the series of the Mary Portas programme also picked up 2.4 million peak viewers but secured a marginally lower 10.9% share on average during the hour-long slot.

Meanwhile, Channel 4’s penultimate I’m Running Sainsbury’s show attracted 1.4 million average viewers and a 6.6% share during the peak hour.

Earlier on in the evening, BBC One’s Eastenders won the battle of the soaps with a high of more than 6.1 million viewers and a 30.2% average share.

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 and key multi-channel stations.