Coverage of the annual Eurovision Song Contest brought in 8.7 million viewers and a 39.9% share for BBC One on Saturday night.

Grabbing its largest audience since 2001, the show peaked at 10.30pm with 10.9 million viewers and 50.8% of the audience watching at that time, rising to 53.4% at 10.45pm.

On ITV, other shows failed to compete, with Vernon Kay's Gameshow Marathon managing just 4.4 million and a 23.9% share at 6.40pm.

Talent search show Grease is the Word pulled in 4.3 million and a 19.9% share at 7.45pm, with Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? at 9.35pm dropping to 3.1 million and a 13.4% share. ITV1's chatshow Parkinson even got its lowest audience since 2001 with 2.1 million viewers and a 11.6% share.

BBC Two's evening devoted author Daphne du Maurier proved moderately popular with Rick Stein in du Maurier Country at 8.10pm taking 1.9 million and 8.8% share, and biographical drama Daphne at 9pm managing 1.8 million and a 7.6% share.

Channel 4's film at 9pm, The Transporter, also got 1.8 million and a 7.9% share. Five's ratings banker, CSI: NY did better with 2.3 million and a 9.7% share at 9pm, with Law and Order at 10pm taking 1.3 million and a 6% share for the channel.