Strong start for sci-fi series 'Sanctuary'

New sci-fi series Sanctuary made a strong start for ITV4 on Monday night, according to early figures.

The web-originated show, about a group of people who harbour 'monsters' of society, drew an average of 505,000 (2.5%) to the channel in the 9pm hour. Also performing well in the timeslot were BBC Four documentary The Story Of Maths, with 531,000 (2.7%), and Dave's QI, which managed 570,000 (2.9%).

ITV2 had 437,000 (2.2%) for Hell's Kitchen USA and on E4, movie The Full Monty averaged 331,000 (1.8%) and 132,000 (1.1%) on timeshift.

Two episodes of Coronation Street brought in the day's best numbers overall, with 9.45m (42.2%) at 7.30pm and 9.17m (38.6%) an hour later. EastEnders put in 9.26m (39.1%) at 8pm, with a further 465,000 (2.8%) watching on BBC Three at 10pm. Emmerdale was third place with 7.03m (34.4%).

On BBC One in the 7pm hour, The One Show held a decent 4.83m (23.7%), then 3.96m (17.7%) tuned in for night two of Big Cat Live. A Russia-themed Panorama delivered an underwhelming 2.8m (11.8%) at 8.30pm. ITV1's Tonight put in 3.31m (14%) from 8pm.

Motorway Cops won the 9pm hour for BBC One with 5.13m (22.5%). ITV1 drama Place Of Execution ended its three-episode run with a mediocre 4.43m (19.4%) and on BBC Two, Amazon With Bruce Parry took in 2.54m (11.1%). Channel 4 had 1.2m (5.3%) for Dispatches: The Hidden World Of Dancing and Five's new series Unbreakable drew just 898,000 (3.9%).

University Challenge had an impressive 3.1m (13.1%) for BBC Two at 8pm, then cookery show What To Eat Now retained 2.34m (9.9%). The pairing beat Dinosaur - A Time Team Special, with 1.14m (4.8%) for Channel 4, and Five's The Gadget Show, with 1.2m (5%).

Overall during primetime, ITV1 led with a 24.8% share to BBC One's 22.9%. BBC Two had 9%, Channel 4 had 5.5% and Five had 4%.

Ratings data supplied by Attentional