'Shirley' delights nearly 2.7m, 'Glee' loses viewers

BBC Two's Shirley Bassey biopic was watched by nearly 2.7m on Thursday evening, but Glee lost viewers on Sky1, the latest audience data has shown.

Shirley, featuring Ruth Negga portraying the acclaimed singer's early career, averaged a tuneful 2.64m (11.7%) for BBC Two between 9pm and 10.15pm. A further 152k (0.7%) watched the drama on the BBC HD channel.

Over at Sky1, season three of Glee continued with 481k (2.1%) in the 9pm hour, down 158k on its debut episode last week.

Also on the multi-channels, The X Factor USA entertained 814k (3.6%) on ITV2 from 8pm, along with 198k (1%) on +1. Afterwards, comedy panel show Celebrity Juice amused 1.3m (7.1%) from 10pm and 163k (1.6%) on timeshift.

Back on the terrestrials, Billy Connolly's Route 66, featuring the comic travelling down the iconic US highway, had 4.15m (18%) on ITV1 in the 9pm hour and 248k (1.5%) on +1.

The show performed admirably against tough competition from BBC One's comedy hour, with Outnumbered and Would I Lie To You? pulling in 4.3m (18.4%) and 2.89m (12.8%) respectively from 9pm.

Elsewhere on BBC One, Watchdog was seen by 4.1m (17.9%) in the 8pm hour and Question Time quizzed 2.31m (18.8%) from 10.45pm.

Country House Rescue built 1.16m (5.1%) on Channel 4 in the 8pm slot and 180k (0.8%) on +1. New series Educating Essex educated 1.32m (5.8%) and 205k (1.2%) on timeshift. Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares served up 850k (5%) from 10pm, and 202k (2.2%) on +1.

If Walls Could Talk captivated 1.19m (6.1%) on BBC Two in the 7pm hour, before The Marvellous Mrs Beeton with Sophie Dahl delighted 1.38m (6%) from 8pm. Mock The Week amused 1.91m (10.5%) from 10.15pm.

Live coverage of Tottenham Hotspur's Europa League clash with Shamrock Rovers scored with 1.72m (7.7%) on Channel 5 between 7.30pm and 10pm. Afterwards, Big Brother entertained 1.29m (8.3%) from 10pm and spinoff Big Brother's Bit On The Side had 397k (4.9%) from 11pm.

Overall, ITV1 edged primetime with 20.4% (+1: 0.7%) against BBC One's 19.8%. BBC Two ranked in third with 8.3%, ahead of Channel 5 with 7.1% and Channel 5 with 4.7% (+1: 0.7%).

Elsewhere, Young Soldiers captivated 361k (1.6%) on BBC Three from 9pm. Lee Nelson's Well Good Show entertained 434k (2.8%) from 10.30pm.

BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional