TV Overnights: BBC One secures a peak-run during prime time

BBC One banked the highest ratings from 7.30pm onwards last night with Eastenders, Holby City and the new peak-hour programme The Secrets of Scientology.

The Panorama special, which saw reporter John Sweeney get an insider’s view of the organisation, attracted more than five million peak viewers and a 20.3% average audience share during the all-important 9pm to 10pm slot.

Earlier on, Eastenders pulled in an impressive high of 8.7 million peak viewers and a 39.3% average share, while the channel’s popular hospital drama Holby City picked up 5.6 million peak viewers and a 24% share.

ITV1 didn’t have a bad run, although Emmerdale proved to be its highest-rating show at 7pm. The Yorkshire-based soap secured 6.5 million viewers and a 32.4% share during the 30-minute 7pm to 7.30pm slot.

At 8pm, New Who Wants to Be a Millionaire with host Chris Tarrant attracted 3.1 million average viewers and a 13.6% share, while 71 Degrees North pulled in 3.3 million average viewers and a 14% share during the 9pm and 10pm peak-hour.

Elsewhere, BBC Two’s new six-part 9 o’clock comedy Whites with Alan Davies and Maggie Steed started on a high of 2.3 million viewers and a 9.9% share, while Channel 5’s ever-popular CSI: Miami peaked with two million viewers and a 8.7% share.

Over on Channel 4, 1.3 million viewers tuned in to watch Ramsay’s Best Restaurants, which saw the famous chef examine the Kai in London and Birmingham’s Yu & You.

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.