Slow takeoff for Channel 4's 'Space Cadets'

The premiere of Channel 4's Space Cadets was dented by ITV's tactical scheduling of an I'm A Celebrity special on Wednesday night.

Despite the high publicity surrounding the show, the launch episode averaged just 2.62 million viewers - a 11% share of the audience - in the 9pm hour, behind all terrestrial competitors except Five.

I'm A Celebrity Coming Out, a behind-the-scenes show following the celebrities after they left the jungle, managed 7.13 million (31.1%) between 9pm and 10.30pm, third place for the day behind Coronation Street (10.06 million, 46.5%) and Emmerdale (8.63 million, 42.9%).

The Bill took 6.31 million (27.3%) at 8pm for fourth, handing ITV1 a clear primetime victory overall.

BBC One peaked in the 8pm hour with 4.13 million (17.9%) for What Not to Wear - Have They Remembered? then at 9, David Attenborough's Life in the Undergrowth dropped slightly to 3.91 million (16.5%).

Channel 4 actually peaked at 8pm for River Cottage Road Trip (2.95 million, 12.8%) but also enjoyed success with Lost (2.76 million, 14.8%) in the 10pm hour. BBC Two had a respectable night, beginning with 1.99 million (8.7%) for Ella: A Meerkat's Tale at 8pm then rising to 2.91 million (12.2%) for a new episode of Rome at 9. Five doco Inside Wandsworth Prison: A MacIntyre Investigation arrested 1 million (4.3%) from 8 before Bruce Willis movie The Last Boy Scout took over with 1.72 million (8.2%) through 11pm.

A new episode of Lost delievered higher numbers than usual for E4 at 11pm, pulling in 1.17 million (15.4%) across the hour.

Sky One had another strong night, meanwhile, with a new Stargate Atlantis drawing 629,000 (3.8%) at 8pm ahead of a new episode of troubled sci-fi series Threshold, which dropped off to 363,000 (2.1%). Topical profile George Best - Football Genius closed off prime with 245,000 (1.7%).

ITV2 began with 284,000 (1.7%) for The Xtra Factor: 24/7 then rose to 309,000 (1.8%) for a new My Teen's a Nightmare - I'm Moving Out.