Five's 'Birth' show delivers 1.7 million

1.7 million viewers watched Five's Birth Night Live in the hope of seeing a live natural birth last night, but viewers had to make do with a caesarean section.

The programme had been following a group of expectant mothers in the days leading up to last night's show, but baby Caleb was the only child to arrive during the two-hour broadcast from the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

Five's controller of live factual events, Alex Sutherland, said: "Although we didn't capture a live natural birth, we did manage, in the moment when Nardine's baby was born by caesarian, to convey the enormous joy, as well as the emotion, that every mother experiences.

"The programme was always intended to be a celebration of birth - showing the highs and lows - and certainly not shying away from the realities too. I think we achieved that."

ITV did better in the ratings with the adaptation of John Harding's novel What We Did On Our Holiday, pulling an audience of 6.1 million and a 27.9% share from 9pm to 11pm. The drama starred Pauline Collins, Roger Lloyd Pack and Shane Richie in his first lead role since EastEnders.

The third part of BBC's Jane Eyre managed slightly higher figures than previous weeks, rising to 6.1 million with an audience share of 24.8%.

ITV got the highest figures for the night, with Coronation Street managing 9 million at 7.30pm and The Royal achieving 7 million viewers between 8pm and 9pm.

Channel 4's 100 Funniest Moments had 1.7 million from 8pm to midnight, with Dragons' Den: Where Are They Now?achieving 2.7 million viewers on BBC Two.