'Big Brother' final is lowest rated ever

Last night's Big Brother final recorded the lowest finale ratings in the show's ten-series history, early figures suggest.

An average of just 2.88m (16.4%) tuned in to Channel 4 between 10pm and 11.15pm last night, a huge drop of almost 2m on last year's finale, which was itself the lowest-rated finale ever at the time.

The audience peaked 3.26m (17.6%) at 10.30pm when Sophie Reade was confirmed as the winner.

An earlier show, broadcast between 8.30pm and 9.30pm, drew 2.58m (11.8%).

Immediately after the final, the last episode of E4's Big Brother's Big Mouth was seen by 504k (4.8%).

Elsewhere last night, a My Family repeat brought in 3.12m (14.1%) to BBC One at 8.30pm. It was followed by Blackadder Rides Again, which averaged 3.38m (15.9%) in the 9pm hour.

On ITV1, Tonight: From Bin To Banquet interested 2.84m (13.4%) between 8pm and 8.30pm. Rebus won the 9pm hour with 3.94m (18.4%).

BBC Two's Mastermind took 2.02m (9.5%) at 8pm, outrating the 816k (3.5%) audience for C4 short doc The Boy Who Was Born A Girl. Gardeners' World claimed 1.88m (8.5%) at 8.30pm, then the latest episode of The Tudors put in 1.59m (7.4%) from 9pm.

Brighton Beach Patrol picked up a decent 1.36m (6.3%) for Five in the 8pm hour, then NCIS logged 1.42m (6.7%).

Overall, ITV1 triumphed in primetime with an average audience share of 21.3% to BBC One's 19.2%. Channel 4 was third with 9.2% (+1: 0.6%), followed by BBC Two with 7.7% and Five with 5.2%.

BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional