TV Overnights: New Tricks attracts over 5 million viewers

BBC One’s New Tricks secured the highest ratings during the all-important 9pm to 10pm top slot last night with 5.1 million peak viewers.

The fourth episode in the eight-part series, starring Alun Armstrong and Amanda Redman, pulled in more than 4.7 million average viewers and a 21.1% audience share during the peak-hour, putting it ahead of its ITV1 rival, The Bill.

ITV1’s long-running police drama, now broadcast at the later time of 9pm, attracted almost 4 million peak viewers in the first fifteen minutes but settled on 3.5 million average viewers and a 15.8% share for the hour.

BBC Two’s Masterchef: The Professionals came a close third with 3.4 million average viewers and a 14.7% share up until 9.30pm, until Never Mind the Buzzcocks took over with 2.3 million average viewers and a 10.5% share between 9.30pm and 10pm.

Elsewhere, Channel 4’s Cutting Edge documentary The Red Lion picked up 1.2 million average viewers and a 5.3% share, while Five’s Vice Squad continued with a low 840,000 viewers and a 3.7% share.

Earlier on in the evening, BBC One’s Eastenders knocked ITV1’s Coronation Street off the top soap spot.  Thursday night’s trip to Albert Square pulled in more than 8 million viewers and a 37.2% average audience share compared to Corrie’s 7.8 million viewers and 31.9% 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.