Liverpool defeat 'Babylon' series opener

Champions League football on ITV1 took viewers from the first episode of a third Hotel Babylon series last night.

The drama, on BBC One, attracted 4.8m, or an 18.6% share, which was about 500,000 lower than its previous two opening episodes. It was also the second lowest audience for any Babylon instalment.

Coverage of Liverpool's 2-0 win over Inter Milan led the way, averaging 7m (27.4%) viewers from the start of the match at 7.45pm.

BBC One fared better earlier with The One Show at 7pm achieving its highest ever audience of 5.7m (26%). It featured an interview with Alan Sugar. The 7.30pm EastEnders attracted 9m (37.4%) and Holby City garnered 6.2m (24.1%) at 8pm.

On Channel 4, The Girl with Eight Limbs, part of the Bodyshock strand, pulled 3.2m (12%) at 9pm. It just beat Five's CSI which was on 3.1m (12.2%) while on BBC Two Horizon trailed with 2.1m (8.4%).

Five News With Natasha Kaplinsky attracted 799,000 (6.2%) at 5pm - a drop from 957,000 (7.5%) viewers on Monday when it relaunched. The next bulletin, at 7pm, was on 447,000 (2%), up from Monday's audience of 431,000 (1.9%).