Second 'Ashes' drops nearly 1m

The second episode of Life on Mars successor Ashes to Ashes dropped nearly 1m viewers.

Last week's show opener took 7m viewers, or a 29% share, but it fell to 6.1m (25%) last night. The average audience for Mars' first series was 6.5m (25.5%).

It still led the other channels on Thursday, however. Trial and Retribution on ITV1 set a new series low with 4.6m (19%) in the slot while on BBC Two at 9pm, Never Mind the Buzzcocks – A Moving Tribute managed 2m (8%). It was followed at 9.30pm by Little Miss Jocelyn on 800,000 (3%).

Baby Bible Bashers on Channel 4 earned a 1.5m (6%) audience and on Five, 1.9m (8%) tuned in for 7.30-10.10pm coverage of the Slavia Prague versus Tottenham UEFA Cup match.

BBC One dominated at 10pm too with the Ten O'Clock News on 4.9m (24.4%) while ITV1's News at Ten took 2.7m (13.9%). Channel 4's new US sitcom The Big Bang Theory struggled at 903,000 (4.7%), compared to a 1.6m (8%) slot average last year.

BBC Two earned 823,000 (4.2%) for Never Better and Five film Anaconda was on 661,000 (4.8%) from 10.10pm.

Five and BBC Two were outpaced by BBC Three's EastEnders repeat at 854,000 (4.9%).