The airing of fomrer Labour MP Tony Benn's interview with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein saw a 50% ratings increase for Channel 4 News last night, early figures show.

The programme -- which airs between 19.00 and 19.55 -- normally averages an audience of around 1 million, but rose to 1.5 million and a 6.4% audience share last night. The bulletin peaked at 1.8 million during the first quarter hour.

The interview, which the network purchased for a reported five-figure sum, was the first the dictator had given to a Western figure for 12 years. In it, Hussein denied that his country has any links with terror group al-Qaeda, and that it possesses any weapons of mass destruction.