TV
BBC genealogy series returns with 6.9m
Published Thursday, Aug 14 2008, 10:52 BST | By Neil Wilkes

The first episode of a new eight-part series, which saw actress Patsy Kensit investigate her villainous ancestry, brought in 6.85m (29.9%) to BBC One in the 9pm hour. The figure is up on the 4.05m (19.1%) who watched Crimewatch in the same slot last week and is also an improvement on the 6.5m (29.5%) for the debut of the last series in September 2007.
The show's success capped a strong night all-round for BBC One. The final episode of wildlife documentary Lost Land of the Jaguar added almost a million viewers to average 5.62m (25.9%) in the 8pm hour and in the preceding hour, Olympics highlights show Games Today drew a respectable 4.3m (22%).
ITV1's primetime schedule was handed over to coverage of the Champions League match between Standard Liege and Liverpool. The game, which ended with a 0-0 draw, averaged 3.57m (16.2%) between 8pm and 10.10pm. The channel had the top-performing show of the day in Coronation Street, which had 7.92m (39.2%) at 7.30pm. The latest visit to the Dales brought in 6.18m (32.7%).
On BBC Two, the third episode of Saddam Hussein drama House of Saddam suffered a disappointing performance, shedding over 600,000 viewers to average 1.77m (7.7%). The series began strongly a fortnight ago with 2.72m (13.2%). A double-bill of Francesco's Mediterranean Voyage had 1.59m (7.6%) and 1.69m (7.6%) in the 8pm hour.
Channel 4's Big Brother dropped slightly in the wake of increased competition in the 9pm hour. The latest update show averaged 2.68m (11.7%), a week-on-week fall of 300,000, but picked up a further 397,000 (2.7%) on Channel 4+1. Earlier, an Embarrassing Illnesses repeat intrigued 1.99m (9.4%) at 8pm then half an hour later, a new 'update' series of How Clean Is Your House? began with 2.42m (10.9%). Dangerous Jobs For Girls had 1.58m (9.5%) at 10pm, with an extra 196,000 (2.6%) via Channel 4+1.
Five enjoyed a decent start for its new series Rory & Paddy's Great British Adventure in the 9pm hour. The show, which sees Rory McGrath and Paddy McGuiness travel around the UK to try out bizarre sporting events, had 1.24m (5.4%). The ensuing new series of Banged Up Abroad fared less well, with 801,000 (4.8%) in the 10pm hour. Earlier, at 8pm, Britain's Strongest Man could only pick up a weak 774,000 (3.6%).
Among the multichannels, a repeat of Xtra Factor: The Best And Worst pulled in the punters with an average of 752,000 (4%) in the 8pm hour. Sister channel ITV3 had a strong night, starting with 574,000 (3%) for Agatha Christie's Poirot in the 8pm hour. A two-hour episode of Lewis was also a crowd-pleaser, drawing 465,000 (4.1%) from 10pm to midnight.
On BBC Three, movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider delivered another impressive audience, with an average of 522,000 (2.8%) between 9pm and 10.30pm. On Sunday the film had managed 648,000 (3.3%). The channel also had success last night with Family Guy, which pulled in audiences of 549,000 (4%) and 640,000 (6.3%) for a double-bill at 10.30pm.
E4's top audience was 450,000 (2.7%) for first-look Hollyoaks at 7pm, with an extra 130,000 on timeshift. Five US drew 393,000 (2%) with CSI: Miami at 9pm and on Film4, navy drama Men Of Honour picked up 380,000 (2.4%) from 9pm.
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