Celebrity Big Brother tops 5m viewers as row continues

by Daniel Farey-Jones, Brand Republic 18-Jan-07, 11:00

LONDON - 'Celebrity Big Brother' has enjoyed another ratings boost from this week's racism and bullying furore, with 5.1m tuning in to watch the goings-on in the house, putting it close behind ITV1.

The controversy gave the 9pm-10pm show a 21% share of viewing, nearly beating ITV's 9pm-10.30pm episode of 'Taggart', which achieved 5.3m and a 23% share.

Having languished at 3.5m viewers on Monday night, the show had shot up to 4.5m on Tuesday night because of the extensive media coverage of the bullying and racist comments directed at Shilpa Shetty, the Indian contestant and Bollywood star, by some of the others.

BBC One's primetime offering, the 7.30pm-10pm FA Cup replay between Newcastle United and Birmingham City, came in at 4.5m viewers and a 19% share.

The best performance of the night was 'Coronation Street', which claimed a massive 48% share as 11.4m viewers tuned in to see Tracey Barlow charged with murder on ITV1 at 7.30pm.

Channel 4 followed 'Celebrity Big Brother' with 'Desperate Housewives', which took 2.6m viewers and a 14% share.

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