I'm a Celeb dips below 8m viewers mark but sees off competition

by Darren Davidson, Brand Republic 19-Nov-08, 11:00

LONDON - The third instalment of ITV1's 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' dipped below the 8m viewers mark for the first time last night, with 7.9m viewers tuning in according to unofficial overnight figures.

The producers merged two rival camps in last night's show after three members of the basic camp threatened to quit the series.

Former TV presenter Esther Rantzen, politician Robert Kilroy-Silk and singer Simon Webbe all said they were planning to leave the show after rain turned their camp into a bog.

The episode was watched by a 32.6% share of the audience between 9pm-10pm, trailing the opening episode which had 8.9m viewers and Monday's 8.2m viewers.

The show comfortably won its 9pm slot, with BBC One's 'New Tricks', normally a ratings winner, only managing to earn a lowly 3.9m viewers and a 16.3% share of the audience between 9pm-10pm.

A 'Horizon' documentary called 'How Mad Are You?', in which the programme makers pondered the line between sanity and madness, brought BBC Two 1.7m viewers and a 6.9% share of the audience between 9pm-10pm.

A documentary about the story of Prince John, the son of George V and Queen Mary, who died at the age of 13, gave Channel 4 a more than respectable 2.2m viewers and an 8.8% share of the audience.

'Prince John: the Windsors' Tragic Secret' pulled in 2.3m viewers and a 9.3% share of the audience, including viewers on Channel 4+1.

Five's popular US import 'CSI: Miami' grabbed 2.3m viewers and a 9.3% share of the audience between 9pm-10pm.