Honest debut attracts 6m viewers to ITV1

by Daniel Farey-Jones, Brand Republic 10-Jan-08, 11:00

LONDON - ITV1's new Wednesday night comedy drama 'Honest' debuted with 6m viewers and a 23.4% share of viewing according to unofficial overnight figures.

'Honest' stars Amanda Redman as a mother who decides her family of petty criminals need to go straight and get proper jobs.

The first of six 9pm-10pm episodes easily outdid BBC One's repeat of 'The Vicar of Dibley', which brought in 4.2m viewers and a 16.5% share.

Channel 4 put in a good performance in the same slot, attracting 3.4m viewers and a 13.3% share for the third and final episode of 'Hugh's Chicken Run', in which the 'River Cottage' presenter attempted to persuade a town to eat only free-range poultry.

In the previous 8pm-9pm slot, the channel's new series of 'Relocation, Relocation, Relocation' retained its audience as 3.9m tuned in to see Phil and Kirsty back on the property trail. This gave it a 15.6% share that came close to BBC One's 'Watchdog', which earned 17.7% and 4.3m viewers.