2.2 million see Noirin's ex join BB house

Isaac Stout's arrival in the Big Brother house pulled in 2.2m (12.5%) for Channel 4 during the 10pm hour last night, according to the latest ratings figures.

The equivalent episode from the last series, which aired at 10pm on Thursday, July 31, 2008, was seen by 3.1m (14.8%), representing a decline of 29% year-on-year.

Earlier on Channel 4, The Home Show drew 1.58m (7.8%) at 8pm, then 1.77m (7.6%) tuned in for the first in a three-part series, How The Other Half Live, during the 9pm hour.

As Seen On TV put in 2.46m (12.7%) for BBC One between 8pm and 8.30pm. The audience then fell to 2.26m (10.7%) during The Rat Pack, while the 9pm screening of New Tricks logged a respectable 6.91m (29.6%).

Over on BBC Two, Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey managed 2.57m (12.7%) at 8pm. Mock The Week and Never Mind The Buzzcocks drew 2.16m (9.3%) and 1.86m (7.9%) respectively in the 9pm hour, then Psychoville bowed out to 1.26m (6.2%).

Five documentary Blackbeard's Last Stand - Revealed interested 1.01m (5%) at 8pm, then 1.57m (6.7%) tuned in for The Mentalist during the 9pm hour.

ITV1's The Bill averaged 4.16m (17.8%) at 9pm.

Overall, BBC One came top during primetime with an average share of 23.4% to ITV1's 21.7%. BBC Two was third with 8.7%, followed by Channel 4 with 7.8% (+1: 0.8%) and Five's 5.3%.

Elsewhere, BBC Three's Sex: My Big Decision put in 296k (1.4%) at 9pm, and 424k (2.5%) tuned in for the penultimate episode of Lie To Me on Sky1 at 10pm.

BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional