'Spooks' makes strong return to BBC One

Spooks made a strong return to BBC One last night, according to early viewing figures.

The 9pm screening of the series eight opener, which stars Peter Frith, Hermione Norris and Richard Armitage, pulled in a decent 6.01m (24.8%).

Previously, series five opened to 5.89m (24.9%) on September 17, 2006, 6.25m (27.7%) watched the first episode of series six on October 16, 2007, and the series seven opener drew 5.5m (23.4%) on October 27 last year.

Earlier on BBC One, Waterloo Road logged 5.41m (22.6%).

Natural World and Badlands Raging Bulls took 2.37m (10%) and 2.27m (9.3%) at 8pm and 8.50pm, then 2.38m (9.8%) watched Andrew Marr's The Making Of Modern Britain during the 9pm hour.

Over on Channel 4, the 8pm Ruth Watson's Hotel Rescue managed 1.88m (7.9%), the new series of The Family opened to 2.27m (9.3%) at 9pm, and 1.16m (7.4%) tuned in for the latest instalment of True Blood at 10pm.

Five's Britain's Best Brain, hosted by Jamie Theakston and Zoe Ball, put in 707k (3%) at 8pm, dropping slightly from last week's slow start. Maid In Manhattan followed, drawing 1.08m (5.3%) between 9pm and 11.10pm.

ITV1's live coverage of the Olympique Lyonnais vs. Liverpool Champions League game averaged 5.15m (21.7%) between 7.30pm and 10pm.

BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional