© ITV
The show, which featured the exits of Storm Lee and Diva Fever, averaged 12.59m (43.8%) on ITV1 in the 8pm hour and 825k (2.9%) on ITV1 HD.
On BBC One, the elimination of magician Paul Daniels from Strictly Come Dancing appealed to 8.9m (33.9%) from 7.30pm, while 349k (1.2%) tuned in on BBC HD.
The programme was followed on BBC One by Antiques Roadshow, which pulled in 5.52m (19.2%) and 167k (0.6%) in HD.
Single Father, a new drama starring David Tennant, secured 4.35m (16%) on BBC One in the 9pm hour and 234k (0.9%) on BBC HD.
However, the programme was soundly beaten by Downton Abbey, after the drama mustered a healthy 8.6m (31.6) on ITV1 and 454k (1.7%) on ITV1 HD.
Earlier on ITV1, The Cube appealed to 5.22m (21.3%) from 7pm and 143k (0.6%) in HD, but it was outperformed by Countryfile, which brought in 6.95m (31.3%) on BBC One from 6.30pm and 161k (0.7%) on BBC HD.
A repeat of Top Gear appealed to 1.74m (7%) on BBC Two in the 7pm hour, before Dambusters Declassified had 2.36m (8.2%).
Dragons' Den: What Happened Next? took 1.14m (4%) on BBC Two in the 9pm hour. It was followed by Match Of The Day 2, which grabbed 2.5m (13.7%).
Channel 4's The Genius Of British Art educated 610k (2.4%) in the 8pm hour and 58k (0.2%) on timeshift. The programme was followed by Undercover Boss USA, which had 750k (2.6%) and 133k (0.5%) on Channel 4 +1.
A new series of The Secret Millionaire premiered to 1.89m (7%) from 9pm and 295k (1.6%) an hour later, before Desperate Housewives entertained 1.57m (8.7%) and 165k (1.8%) on timeshift.
Over at Five, screenings of 50 First Dates and Superbad grabbed respective audiences of 726k (2.7%) and 1.31m (6.2%) from 6.30pm.
Overall, ITV1 owned primetime with 29.1% (HD: 1.5%) against BBC One's 20.8%. BBC Two came in third with 7.8%, followed by Channel 4 with 4.8% (+1: 0.6%) and Five with 4.2%.
Elsewhere, spinoff show The Xtra Factor appealed to 847k (3.1%) on ITV2 from 9pm and 144k (0.8%) an hour later.
The programme was followed on ITV2 by new reality series The Only Way Is Essex, which had 667k (3.2%) and 119k (1.1%) on timeshift.
Sky1's new detective series Thorne: Sleepyhead, which stars David Morrissey, continued to 389k (1.4%) in the 9pm hour.
BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional
