'Apprentice' ratings hit new high

The Apprentice logged its second highest audience ever last night, according to early ratings figures.

The fourth episode of the current series averaged 5.5 million viewers and a 23.2% share for BBC One in the 9pm hour, giving the show a series high and a week-on-week rise of half a million viewers. Only the series two finale ranked higher, with 5.9 million and a 26.8% share.

ITV1's City Lights came second for the hour, with 4.4 million (18.7%), and on Channel 4, Grand Designs had 3.2 million (13.8%). BBC Two's Natural World managed 1.9 million (8.2%).