Vote 2005: Friday's news ratings

Each day during the election campaign, Digital Spy will be tracking the performance of the major news broadcasters. Check in daily for a roundup of the latest ratings for the terrestrial news programmes and the rolling news channels.

Overnight data for Friday, April 22 follows.

Terrestrials: Summary

Once again the Beeb's 10pm bulletin was the most-watched national news item of the day, with an average of 4.46 million (22.7%) over 30 minutes. ITV's 10.30pm update could only muster 1.94 million (12.5%).

A Tonight With Trevor McDonald special on a hot campaign issue - immigration - tempted 3.49 million (16.7%) at 8pm.

BBC One's latest edition of The Paxman Interviews, featuring Conservative leader Michael Howard, pulled in 2.5 million (12.8%); the same number who saw Tony Blair grilled earlier in the week.

News Channels: Summary

Sky News was around 50% down on its usual audience to an average of around 30,000 viewers for most of the day, peaking with an average of 66,000 (2.49%) for its Michael Jackson Trial Update at 9.30am. Sky's slip allowed News 24 to creep ahead with a peak of 55,000 (0.74%) at 5pm and a daytime average of around 40,000.

News channels: Primetime Breakdown

7pm - 8pm
Sky News (The Boulton Factor): 15,000 (0.12%)
News 24: 33,000 (0.27%)

8pm - 9pm
Sky News: 11,000 (0.08%)
News 24: 41,000 (0.29%)

9pm - 10pm
Sky News: 26,000 (0.18%)
News 24: 48,000 (0.33%)

10pm - 11pm
Sky News: 34,000 (0.27%)
News 24: 24,000 (0.19%)

Ratings data supplied by ViewingFigures.com