Latest 'Big Brother' draws 2.1 million

Last night's instalment of Big Brother attracted 2.12m (9.2%) to Channel 4 in the 9pm hour, early ratings figures suggest.

The equivalent episode from the last series, which aired on Sunday, July 20, 2008, was seen by 2.97m (12.5%), representing a decline of 29% year-on-year.

Earlier on Channel 4, the sixth episode of Wife Swap drew 1.76m (7.3%).

Over on ITV1, the 8pm documentary All The Queen's Horses With Alan Titchmarsh put in 4.17m (17.3%). The audience then rose to 4.38m (19%) during Taggart, putting ITV1 in pole position during the 9pm hour.

Top Gear came top at 8pm, putting in an impressive 6.49m (26.9%). On Thin Ice followed, pulling in 3m (13%).

The penultimate episode of BBC One's Hope Springs managed 3.38m (14%) during the 8pm hour, then Casualty 1909 bowed out to 3.21m (15%) at 9pm.

Five's Sandra Bullock film, Practical Magic, averaged 927k (3.9%) between 8pm and 10pm.

Overall, ITV1 came top during primetime with an average share of 17.3% to BBC One's 16.9%. BBC Two was third with 15.8%, followed by Channel 4 with 7.1% (+1: 0.9%) and Five's 4.3%.

Elsewhere, Sky1's 9pm screening of the latest House episode put in 583k (2.8%), while BBC Three's new series Young, Dumb And Living Off Mum logged 498k (2.4%).

BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional