Viewers on board with 'Friese-Greene'

New documentary series The Lost World of Friese-Greene got off to a strong start in the ratings for BBC Two last night (Tuesday), drawing almost 4 million viewers.

The show, featuring colour footage shot by Friese-Greene in the 1920s, averaged a punchy 3.76m in the 9pm hour, equivalent to a 16.1% share of the TV audience.

The show capped a strong night for BBC Two all round: earlier, the special Save Lullingstone Castle put in 2.13m (9.8%) and It's Not Easy Being Green had 3.01m (13.1%).

ITV1 entertained just 3.95m (17.5%) with coverage of the Champions League game between AC Milan and Barcelona from 7.30pm, although Emmerdale was the day's number two overall with 7.46m (39.1%).

Top honours went to EastEnders, with 10.28m (48.7%) for BBC One at 7.30pm. Holby City followed with 6.9m (30.8%) in the 8pm hour, while Shops, Robbers and Videotape maintained a reasonable 5.26m (22.5%) an hour later.

Five started slowly with 1.35m (6%) for the new series of House Doctor: Inside and Out before growing to 3.29m (14.1%) for CSI at 9. A CSI: Miami repeat closed off prime with 2.54m (14.8%).

Channel 4 had a distinctly average night, peaking at 8 with 1.9m (8.5%) for Sarah Beeny's Streets Ahead. That'll Teach 'Em interested 1.66m (7.1%) at 9, ahead of No Angels with 1.52m (9.1%).

It was a middling night for most of the multichannels, meanwhile. Sky One had a respectable 328,000 for Battlestar Galactica in the 9pm hour, against 245,000 (+45,000) for E4's new episode of The O.C..

At 10, the much-publicised premiere of new drama Thief drew a solid 285,000 to Sky One. E4 had varying success with originals Boys Will Be Girls (226,000) and Girls Aloud: Off The Record (314,000).

ITV2 began with 207,000 for outgoing sci-fi drama Surface at 8pm before rising to 220,000 for Jennifer Aniston movie Object Of My Affection.