'American Idol' takes 551k for ITV2

A new season of American Idol launched with over half a million viewers for ITV2 on Thursday, early figures suggest.

The eighth season, which introduces a new fourth judge, songwriter Kara DioGuardi, opened to 551k (2.6%) between 8pm and 10pm. A further 112k (0.6%) watched on ITV2+1. Overall the figures are down around 20% year-on-year.

In the US, around 30 million tuned in for the premiere earlier in the week.

Hustle kept up the pace for BBC One at 9pm, drawing 5.4m (23.1%) to win the slot. ITV1's Total Emergency alarmed 3.26m (13.9%) and on BBC Two, Victorian Farm snagged an impressive 3.15m (13.6%).

Celebrity Big Brother brought in 2.37m (10.2%) to Channel 4, with an additional 336k (2.1%) on timeshift. Five movie Quicksand, starring Michael Keaton as a banker caught up with gangsters, drew 929k (4.5%) over two hours.

Documentary Paul Burrell: What Really Happened interested 1.58m (9.2%) for Channel 4 at 10pm.

BBC One comedy Life Of Riley held onto most of its debut audience, registering 4.74m (20.7%) at 8pm. The Green Green Grass followed with 4.02m (16.9%).

ITV1 won the 8pm hour with 4.57m (19.6%) for The Bill. BBC Two's MasterChef pulled in an impressive 3.55m (15.2%) for the hour and on C4, River Cottage Autumn Collection was seen by 1.82m (7.8%). Five took a decent 1.71m (7.3%) for Cowboy Builders.

EastEnders had 9.01m (41.1%) for BBC One at 7.30pm, with a further 701k (3.9%) watching the BBC Three repeat. Emmerdale drew 6.55m (31.6%) to ITV1.

Channel 4's Hollyoaks managed 1.74m (8.7%) at 6.30pm, then E4's screening put in 556k (3%). On Five, Neighbours had 1.45m (9.2%) and Home & Away had 964k (5.1%).

BBC One's average primetime share rose one point on last week to 24.6% and first place. ITV1 fell from 18.7% to 17.3%, while BBC Two dropped slightly from 10.7% to 10.5% for third. Channel 4 was up 0.1 points to 7.7% and Five rose from 4.5% to 4.8%.

Ratings data supplied by Attentional