Big Brother Works Its Magic For Channel 4

5.8 million viewers tuned into watch the first episode of Big Brother 3 on Friday night making it the highest rated programme on Channel 4 so far this year.

According to unofficial overnight figures from BARB, the live one-hour special, which saw the twelve new contestants enter the Big Brother house for the first time, secured a 25.9% share of viewing making its the most popular Big Brother debut to date.

The launch of the show also proved popular on E4, with live streaming of the house peaking at 1.3 million multi-channel viewers, which is almost twice the peak for live streaming in 2001.

However, the show was beaten in the ratings by Friday night’s instalment of Have I Got News For You, as an extra 1.5 million viewers tuned in to BBC1 to witness Angus Deayton being ritually humiliated over his alleged indiscretion with a prostitute. A total of 7.5 million watched the show, which secured a 33% share of viewing.

In 2001 the debut of Big Brother attracted an audience of 3.5 million and a 17% share of viewing and the first ever episode of the reality TV show in 2000 secured 3.6 million viewers (see Channel 4 Doubles Average Viewing Share With Opening Big Brother Episodes).

Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com

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