Soaps Ratings Roundup: July 7

It was a close call between rival soaps EastEnders and Emmerdale in the soaps ratings battle yesterday evening, early figures show.

ITV's edition of Emmerdale just nudged ahead in the overall ratings, with 4.73m (21.9%) in the hour from 7pm.

EastEnders, meanwhile, logged 4.71m (21%) for the duration of its half-hour episode at 7.30pm - its smallest audience since the Wimbledon-induced soap ratings low at the end of last month.

During the head-to-head period from 7.30pm, however, Emmerdale's ratings dipped slightly to 4.65m (21%), allowing EastEnders to claim a narrow victory in the weekly schedule clash.

Meanwhile, BBC Three's 10pm repeat of the Walford soap attracted its highest audience since March 31, drawing 1.64m (8.8%). It was also the most-watched multi-channel programme of the day by a significant margin.

BBC One's daily instalment of medical drama Doctors, yesterday titled 'The Real World', took 1.68m (22.1%) at 1.45pm.

Five's offering of Neighbours, during which Bridget continued to struggle with the idea of marrying Declan, was seen by 1.47m (10.6%) at 5.30pm. Fiver's repeat at 7pm added 169k (0.9%).

Hannah's struggle to remember her wedding night during last night's Hollyoaks was watched by 1.19m (6%) at 6.30pm. E4's first look put in 483k (2.5%). Its timeshift transmission on E4+1 added a further 109k (0.5%).

Meanwhile, the resolve to Lou's murder case in Home and Away brought in 1.06m (6.1%) at 6pm on Five. Fiver's first look interested 396k (2.2%) 30 minutes later.

BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional