TV Overnights: 8.1 million watch Question Time

A massive 8.1 million viewers tuned in to see BNP leader Nick Griffin on last night’s Question Time, a bigger figure than the 7.7 million who watched Coronation Street in its prime-time ITV1 slot.

The BBC One show, on for an hour from 10.35pm, had an average viewing figure of 7.9 million – a 50% share of the audience and around three times its normal viewing figure.

In May this year BBC One moved Question Time to an earlier 9pm timeslot following the MPs’ expenses scandal and a peak of 3.9 million people watched the show – a share of 18%.

The only programme to gain more viewers than Question Time last night was EastEnders on BBC One at 7.30, with a peak of 8.3 million viewers, a 37.6% share.

Elsewhere, the final of Masterchef: The Professionals, on at 8pm, picked up a peak of 4.7 million, with an average of 3.9 sticking with it for its 90 minute running time.

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.