2.3m see new Heston series

Heston Blumenthal's new series Heston's Victorian Feast had a reasonable debut last night, according to early figures.

The four-parter, following the scientific chef as he recreates mythical and historical meals, opened to 2.29m (9.9%) in the 9pm hour, with a further 364k (2.3%) on Channel 4+1.

It was beaten by Five's screening of CSI, which took 3m (12.9%), and the final episode of Total Emergency, which averaged 3.1m (13.4%) for ITV1.

4.3m (18.6%) tuned in to the third episode of Mistresses on BBC One, while BBC Two's Horizon, which questioned why we are embarrassed of our bodies, drew a lowly 1.77m (7.7%).

Holby City came top in the 8pm hour, attracting 6.08m (26.2%) to BBC One. A new series of ITV1's New Homes From Hell was its nearest competitor, which was seen by 3.68m (15.9%).

1.98m (8.5%) watched BBC Two's Coast, while Channel 4's Supersize Vs Superskinny picked up 1.94m (8.4%). Five's documentary The Man Who Lives With Bears came last during the 8pm hour, drawing 803k (3.5%).

BBC One dominated primetime with an average share of 22.7% to ITV1's 17.6%. Channel 4 was third with 8.6% (+1: 0.9%), followed by BBC Two on 7.2% and Five on 6.8%.

Elsewhere, the new Shameless pulled in 732k (9.2%) for E4 at 11pm, and 668k (3.2%) watched Agatha Christie's Marple on ITV3 at 8pm.

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Ratings data supplied by Attentional