TV Overnights: Brand new Who Do You Think You Are? secures top ratings with 7m viewers

BBC One’s Who Do You Think You Are? managed to secure the peak slot of 9pm to 10pm last night, with the first episode of a new series.

The programme, which explored Bruce Forsyth’s ancestory, attracted more than 7 million viewers, with a 27.6% average share. This was despite competition from ITV1’s Identity.

The third episode of the drama series managed to attract average viewing figures of 4.2 million, and a 17.4% average share – improving on last week’s 3.8 million average viewers and 16.2 % share.

Elsewhere, BBC Two documentary On The Frontline: Life with the Green Howards achieved average viewing figures of 0.9 million, with a 3.9% average share, while Five’s film The Jackal attracted 1.3 million viewers, and a 6.6% average share.

Earlier in the evening, soaps dominated the top ratings.  ITV1 won the 7pm – 8pm slot with Emmerdale and the first Coronation Street episode of the night, with Emmerdale reaching a peak audience of 6.8 million, and Coronation Street achieving 8.3 million. The second Coronation Street episode, aired at 8.30pm, also peaked at 8.3 million.

However, it was narrowly beaten by BBC One’s Eastenders, aired at 8:00pm, which secured an average viewing figure of 8.6 million and an average share of 37.3%.

During the day-time, BBC One dominated the morning television schedule, with ITV1 taking over in the afternoon. However, Channel 4 managed to reach top spot briefly with Deal Or No Deal at 4.10pm, achieving a 15.5% average 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.