'Apprentice' holds steady audience

The latest episode of The Apprentice pulled in 7.65m (32%) for BBC One, according to overnight viewing figures.

Last night's episode, which saw Kimberly Davis fired by Sir Alan, drew 630k more viewers than the previous.

Hell's Kitchen was affected by the clash, taking just 3.18m (13.3%) for ITV1 during the 9pm hour, while the penultimate episode of Channel 4's Grand Designs put in 2.17m (9.1%).

Restoration Revisited was seen by 1.8m (7.5%) on BBC Two, while 908k (3.8%) watched Extraordinary People: The Man With Someone Else's Face on Five.

Earlier, at 8pm, The Bill attracted a solid 4.66m (21.4%) for ITV1, just ahead of BBC One's Waterloo Road, with 4.33m (19.9%).

Jo Brand's The Speaker put in 950k (4.4%) for BBC Two and Five's Oil Riggers had roughly the same, with 955k (4.4%) for the hour.

The second episode of Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies averaged 2.52m (11.6%).

Overall, BBC One led primetime with an average share of 24% to ITV1's 20.2%. Channel 4 was third with 8.5% (+1: 1.1%), followed by BBC Two's 7.2% and Five with 3.6%.

Elsewhere, the latest episode of Gossip Girl took a lowly 161k (0.7%) for ITV2 at 9pm, and 208k (1.5%) tuned in for Newswipe With Charlie Brooker on BBC Four at 10.30pm.

The second episode of BBC Four's Mud, Sweat And Tractors: The Story Of Agriculture was seen by 434k (2%) in the 9pm hour.

Ratings data supplied by Attentional