Ross’ comeback wins over 5 million viewers

BBC One’s controversial return of Friday Night with Jonathan Ross attracted more than 5 million peak viewers and an impressive 30% average audience share.

More than 4.7 million average viewers tuned in to see Ross return to their TV screens this weekend – following his three month ban after the Sachgate affair last year – boosting the channel’s ratings between 10.35pm and 11.35pm.

On the same evening, Channel 4’s Celebrity Big Brother grand final failed to impress viewers, only pulling in 2.9 million average viewers in the first show and 3.2 million in the second.

The live final, which saw Ulrika Jonsson crowned queen, secured Channel 4 with a low 12.6% audience share between 8.30pm and 9.30pm and a 17.1% audience share between 10pm and 11.05pm.

Elsewhere, ITV1 banked the peak audience all evening on Sunday, starting with the FA Cup Football at 6pm right the way through to the end of Dancing on Ice: The Skate Off at 10pm.

Dancing on Ice pulled in more than 9 million viewers between 6.30pm and 8.30pm, which puts it up there with the X Factor‘s high weekend ratings before Christmas.

Around 8.2 million average viewers – a 33.2% audience share – tuned in to see the remaining 11 contestants compete for a place on next week’s show.

Meanwhile, Jeremy’s departure on the Skate Off show attracted a further 6.5 million average viewers and a 25.9% audience 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.

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com