'Nightmares' no headache for Channel 4

Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares made a strong return to the ratings last night with more than 4 million viewers.

The first episode in the new series drew an average of 3.9 million viewers, a 16.8% share of the audience, to Channel 4 at 9pm, with an extra 300,000 tuning in via Channel 4+1.

BBC One's Spooks dominated the hour with 5.7 million (24.6%) while ITV1 was pushed into third place with just 2.8 million (12.7%) for the one-off special Roger Cook's Greatest Hits. Five's CSI: Miami had 2.7 million (11.5%) and BBC Two was in a distant fifth place for the hour with 1 million (4.3%) for Classical Star.

Earlier, Channel 4 also enjoyed success with an audience of 3 million (12.8%) for the return of Property Ladder at 8pm. Holby City was comfortably ahead with 6.6 million (28.1%) for BBC One, with 3.8 million (16.2%) preferring ITV1's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Overall in primetime, BBC One had a solid 27.3% share against ITV1's 17.9%. Channel 4 managed 11.7% for third place, followed by BBC Two on 7.8% and Five on 6.9%.