Secret Life of Elephants debuts with 4.2m on BBC One

by Nikki Sandison, Brand Republic 15-Jan-09, 10:45

LONDON - BBC One's 'The Secret Life of Elephants', revealing the behaviour and emotional lives of elephants in Kenya's Samburu reserve, attracted 4.2m viewers on BBC One, according to unofficial overnight figures.

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The first instalment of the three-part series, which contrasted one elephant family's excitement when a new baby is born with a herd mourning the death of a female elephant, pulled in an 18.1% share of the 9pm-10pm audience.

It was beaten by ITV1's FA Cup coverage of Chelsea's 4-1 win against Southend United which won the prime time slot with 5.1m viewers and a 21.7% share of the 8pm-10.15pm audience.

'Celebrity Big Brother' drew 2.8m viewers and a 12.1% share of the 9pm-10pm audience to Channel 4 as viewers tuned in to see TV presenter Terry Christian and 'Shameless' actress Tina Malone performing a ballet routine dressed in revealing tutus. Including Channel 4+1 figures it reached 3.2m viewers.

BBC Two's documentary 'The City Uncovered with Evan Davis', in which the 'Dragon's Den' presenter attempted to demystify banking by tracing the rise and fall of Lehman Brothers and Northern Rock, netted 1.9m viewers and an 8.3% share in the same slot.

Five's airing of Steven Seagal action film 'Shadow Man' pulled in 1.4m viewers and a 6.8% share of the 9pm-11pm audience.