BBC genealogy series returns with 6.9m

The return of celebrity genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? was ratings gold for the BBC last night (Wednesday).

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.