Big guns draw level in battle for primetime viewers

by Darren Davidson Brand Republic 23-May-08, 11:00

LONDON - Channel 4, BBC One and ITV1 were neck and neck in the battle for viewers in the hotly contested 9pm slot last night, after ITV's 'Midnight Man' took a dip, according to unofficial overnight figures.

'Midnight Man', ITV1's crime drama starring James Nesbitt, was watched by 3.1m viewers and a 14.3% share at 9pm, after launching with 3.8m viewers three weeks ago.

BBC One's comedy drama 'The Invisibles' also drew 3.1m and a 14.4% share in the same slot, having opened with 4.7m viewers at the beginning of May.

A Channel 4 documentary about three couples with 35 children between them, called '13 Kids and Wanting More', pulled in a total audience of 3.1m viewers and a 14.1% share, including viewers on Channel 4+1. It brought 2.8m viewers and a 12.9% share on the main terrestrial channel.

The fifth episode of BBC Two's US import 'Heroes' was watched by 2.5m viewers and an 11.5% share in the same slot, slightly below the 2.6m viewers it managed last week.

Five's US medical drama 'House' had 1.7m viewers and a 7.8% share at the same time, up from last week's 1.5m viewers.

The broadcaster's other US medical drama 'Grey's Anatomy' netted 868,000 viewers and a 4.9% share at 10pm.