Overnights: BBC One’s new documentary steals the limelight

BBC One’s new two-part documentary Famous, Rich and Homeless picked up the highest ratings during the important 9pm and 10pm slot last night with over 5.3 million peak viewers.

More than 4.7 million average viewers tuned in to see editor-in-chief of the Big Issue John Bird and a group of celebrities, including Annabel Croft and Rosie Boycott, gain a better understanding of life on the streets during the hour-long documentary, securing BBC One with a respectable 22.4% audience share.

Meanwhile, ITV1’s final episode of Spain: Paradise Lost attracted a high of 3.7 million viewers and a 26.9% average audience share.

Channel 4’s Big Brother managed to take third place in the peak-hour ratings war with a high of 1.9 million viewers and a 8.3% average share, although the reality programme is still lagging well behind compared to its performance last year.

At the same time, BBC Two’s new two-part documentary NASA – Triumph and Tragedy, which examined America’s role in the space race, attracted 1.4 million average viewers and a 6.8% share, while Five’s spaghetti western film For a Few Dollars More pulled in 1.1 million viewers and a 6.9% share.

Earlier on in the evening, ITV1 secured a peak run with its flagship shows Emmerdale, Coronation Street and The Bill. Out of the three, Corrie peaked with a high of 7.1 million viewers and an impressive 39.7% 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.