New 'Rab C Nesbitt' grabs 3.4m

The return of Rab C Nesbitt for a one-off special delivered a healthy audience last Tuesday, December 23.

The Scottish comedy, starring Gregor Fisher as the titular alcoholic, drew 3.43m (14.4%) for BBC Two over 45 minutes from 9pm, denting the audience for the conclusion of BBC One's Survivors.

The series finale of the post-apocalyptic drama was down 1.2m week-on-week to just 4.2m (17.6%) in the hour. Over its six episodes Survivors has averaged a respectable 5.19m (21.4%) and a second series has already been commissioned.

Winning the 9pm slot was ITV1's The Bill, which took 4.42m (18.6%) for its Christmas episode.

Both Channel 4 and Five also posted strong numbers for the hour, with the former's Country House Rescue taking 2.12m (8.9%). On Five, the season finale of CSI: Miami appealed to 2m (8.4%).

After Rab C Nesbitt, a Mock The Week compilation drew 2.79m (12.2%) to BBC Two, then the final Lead Balloon had 1.53m (8.2%).

On Channel 4 at 10pm, Alan Carr's Christmas Ding Dong pulled 1.58m (7.9%) and Five's CSI: New York captured 1.38m (7.2%).

An hour-long Emmerdale averaged 6.01m (28.3%) for ITV1 in the 7pm hour. As a result, EastEnders was down to 6.13m (27.7%) for BBC One at 7.30pm, although the later BBC Three repeat logged a greater-than-average 1.34m (7.1%).

A double Hollyoaks managed 1.57m (8.4%) for Channel 4 in the 6pm hour.

BBC One won the 8pm hour, taking 5.56m (24.2%) for Holby City, although ITV1's Millionaire put in a decent 5.21m (22.7%).

Channel 4 had 1.1m (4.8%) for How To Look Good Naked and Five's Nature Shock, about lions attacking humans, was seen by 953k (4.2%).

On BBC Two, a 90-minute TOTP2 Christmas Special claimed 2.44m (10.8%) from 9pm.

BBC One had the narrow edge in primetime overall, with an average share of 21.5% to ITV1's 20.4%. The week before BBC One had led by a greater margin, averaging 24.2% to 18%.

BBC Two was third, improving to 11.3% from 6%, while Channel 4 was down from 7.1% to 6.3%. Five rounded out with a share of 5.7%, down from 6.8%.

Ratings data supplied by Attentional