TV Overnights: BBC One’s new Young Ones wins the top spot

BBC One’s new three part series The Young Ones, which isn’t a remake of the classic 80’s comedy but a show that will see six celebrities attempt to relive 1975, easily secured the peak audience during the 9pm to 10pm slot last night.

More than 3.9 million peak viewers (a 16.1% average audience share) tuned in to watch Liz Smith, Lionel Blair, and Dickie Bird encounter 1970’s food, fashion and entertainment in the first of three episodes.

The new show overshadowed ITV1’s second 71 Degrees North – a similar programme format, although this time with celebrities facing challenges in arctic conditions. The ITV1 reality show started on a high of more than three million viewers but slipped down to 2.8 million average viewers during the course of the hour-long slot.

BBC Two’s new ‘docudrama’ First Light, based on the personal memoirs of a RAF pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain, came in closely behind ITV1 with 2.6 million average viewers and a 11.5% audience share.

Channel 4 was also able to boast a new addition to it’s Tuesday evening line-up. Ramsay’s Best Restaurant, which sees the famous chef search for Britain’s favourite local eatery, pulled in 1.5 million average viewers and a 6.8% share during the 9pm to 10pm slot.

However, Channel 4’s gem was the second episode of This Is England ’86, which attracted over 1.9 million peak viewers at 10pm.

Meanwhile, Five’s peak-hour favourite CSI:Miami picked up more than two million average viewers and a 8.6% audience share.

Earlier on in the evening, BBC One held its own during the lead-up to the watershed. Eastenders attracted an impressive high of 8.2 million average viewers during the 7.30pm to 8pm slot, before hospital drama Holby City won over 5.2 million average viewers.

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.