Overnights: New Torchwood starts on a high

BBC One’s new five-part Torchwood – Children of Earth programme, which is due to air every night this week, started on a high last night with more than 6 million peak viewers.

The sci-fi drama, a Doctor Who spin-off starring John Barrowman, pulled in 5.9 million average viewers and a 25.8% audience share during the all-important 9pm to 10pm peak hour.

At the same time, ITV1’s Real Crime series, which focused on the five-and-a-half year investigation into the rape and murder of Southampton teenager Hannah Foster, attracted over 4.1 million average viewers and a 18% share.

The three remaining terrestrial channels battled in out for third place in the peak-hour ratings war, with Channel 4’s Inside Nature’s Giants just managing to pip the other two.

The second in the four-part nature show with Mark Evans picked up 1.7 million average viewers compared with BBC Two’s and Channel Five’s 1.5 million.

Five’s new eight-part series, The Hotel Inspector, peaked with a high of 1.7 million viewers, while BBC Two’s The Supersizers Eat continued with a high of 1.6 million viewers.

Earlier on in the evening, the soaps pulled in the overall highest ratings – ITV1’s Coronation Street secured the top spot with more than 9 million peak 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.