7.7 million tune in for new 'Doctor Who'

Doctor Who made an impressive return to BBC One on Saturday night, the latest viewing figures show.

The first full episode to feature Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith averaged 7.66m (35.3%) between 6.15pm and 7.30pm, easily making it the most-watched programme across primetime.

Later on BBC One, Over The Rainbow interested 5.42m (25.4%) at 7.30pm, 5.33m (24.1%) watched The National Lottery at 8.45pm, and the 9.30pm screening of Casualty claimed 5.52m (25.4%).

Great Offices of State took 850k (4%) for BBC Two at 7.45pm, then 1.69m (7.6%) tuned in for Dad's Army at 8.45pm. Have I Got A Bit More News For You followed at 9.15pm, drawing 1.71m (7.7%).

Over on ITV1, Ant & Dec's Push The Button drew 3.95m (18.6%) at 7.30pm, The Door closed to 3.5m (15.9%) at 8.30pm, and Geri Halliwell's episode of Piers Morgan's Life Stories attracted 2.94m (13.5%) from 9.30pm.

Blitz: London and The Italian Job averaged 1.34m (6.2%) for Channel 4 at 7pm and 9pm respectively.

CSI put in 1.18m (5.5%) for Five at 8pm, then spinoff New York had 1.72m (7.7%) during the 9pm hour.

Overall, BBC One dominated primetime with an average share of 26.2% to ITV1's 15.1%. Channel 4 was third with 6.5% (+1: 0.6%), followed by Five's 6% and BBC Two with 5.1%.

BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional