Champions League Final attracts over 10 million viewers

ITV1’s UEFA Champions League Final coverage attracted more than 10.3 million peak viewers last night and an impressive 33.7% average audience share between 7pm and 10.10pm.

Over 7.8 million average viewers tuned in to see Manchester United lose 2-0 to Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the English sides first European defeat.

Barcelona took an early lead and despite Man United’s efforts to win back the game, Messi’s late goal sealed the deal for the Spanish team, destroying United’s hopes of becoming the first side to retain the Champions League trophy.

On the whole, the football managed to overshadow rival peak-time programmes last night, however, more than seven million viewers tuned in to BBC One for the last part of The Apprentice once the match had ended.

A high of 7 million viewers switched over to see the most crucial part of the show – Sir Alan’s much-loved ‘telling-off’ – between 9.45pm and 10pm.

This week Howard found himself in the firing line after failing to win the shopping channel task with fellow team-mates Lorraine and Kate, and despite competition from the football, The Apprentice attracted a decent 6.4 million average viewers and a 24.9% share during the 9pm to 10pm peak-hour.

Elsewhere, the second episode in the current series of Kevin McCloud’s Grand Designs pulled in over 2.1 million peak viewers, securing Channel 4 with a 6.7% average audience share during the peak slot.

At the same time, Five’s film thriller Presumed Innocent with Harrison Ford picked up 796,000 viewers, while BBC Two’s new Armando Iannucci: Milton’s Heaven and Hell attracted just 653,000 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.