682,000 tune in for new 'Simpsons'

The Simpsons made a strong return to Sky1 last night, according to the latest viewing figures.

The first new episode of the record-breaking 21st season, which aired at 7.30pm, drew 682k (2.7%), making it the most-watched programme on the multichannel stations during that time period.

American Idol continued to perform well for ITV2, putting in 841k (3.2%) at 8pm, and BBC Three's Stag Weekends: The Dirty Secrets took 676k (2.6%) during the 9pm hour.

Elsewhere, BBC One's Material Girl, starring Being Human's Lenora Crichlow, made a lukewarm start, attracting 3.02m (11.7%) during the 8pm hour.

Also at 8pm, Jimmy's Global Harvest had 2.17m (8.4%) for BBC Two, 1.29m (5%) watched the final part of My Big Fat Diet Show on Channel 4, and Five's Build A New Life In The Country managed 1.08m (4.2%).

Silent Witness won the 9pm hour, bringing in 6.54m (24.8%) for BBC One. Its nearest rival, ITV1's The Bill, was seen by 4.1m (15.6%).

Kevin McCloud: Slumming It opened to 2.86m (10.9%) for Channel 4, 1.01m (3.8%) tuned in for Simon Schama on Obama's America, and Steven Seagal movie Attack Force averaged 1.09m (4.6%) for Five between 9pm and 11pm.

At 10pm, the latest from Celebrity Big Brother interested 3.11m (16.2%) for Channel 4.

Overall, ITV1 edged primetime with an average share of 23.2% to BBC One's 22.6%. Channel 4 was third with 8.4% (+1: 0.9%), followed by BBC Two with 5.6% and Five's 3.6%.

BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional