Jerry Springer's family past brings in 6.5m viewers

by Nikki Sandison, Brand Republic 28-Aug-08, 10:45

LONDON - BBC One's 'Who Do You Think You Are?' beat ITV1's football coverage last night , with talk show host Jerry Springer's exploration of his family's past in Nazi Germany pulling in 6.5m viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures.

Last night's episode, which saw Springer, who is Jewish, examining the records of his relatives' degradation from Berlin prosperity to a room in a ghetto to the cattle truck taking them to a death camp, attracted a 26.9% share of the 9-10pm audience.

It beat ITV's coverage of the UEFA Champions League qualifying match between Liverpool and Standard Liege, which netted 4.6m viewers and a 20.7% share of the 8-10.15pm audience.

Liverpool won the match 1-0 after striker Dirk Kuyt scored a goal in the 118th minute, just as it seemed inevitable that the snoreathon would have to be ended by a penalty shoot-out.

'Big Brother' attracted 3.4m viewers and a 14% share of the 9-10pm audience, which saw Darnell and Rex reprimanded for their behaviour towards fellow housemate Sara. Including Channel 4+1 it reached 3.7m viewers and a 15.4% share.

A second live episode of 'Big Brother', in which housemates Sara and Lisa won £25,000 each as part of a nominations twist, pulled in 3.2m viewers and a 27.3% share of the 11.05-11.45pm audience.

Five's 'Rory & Paddy's Great British Adventure', which sees comedians Rory McGrath and Paddy McGuinness travel the UK in a camper van in search of strange sporting events, netted 1.3m viewers and a 5.3% share of the 9-10pm audience.

It beat BBC Two's drama 'My Zinc Bed', starring Uma Thurman as the alcoholic wife of a multimillionaire businessman, which attracted 1m viewers and a 4.3% share of the 9-10.15pm audience.