TV overnights - February 1: Five on a Friday night high (original) (raw)

Channel Five posted healthy ratings on Friday night, beating Channel 4 in peak time with a mix of imported factual and drama shows.

The second episode of the gritty History Channel series Ice Road Truckers added 100,000 to its debut score on Wednesday to draw 2.3 million viewers and a 9% share in the 8pm hour, according to unofficial overnights.

At 9pm, a new episode of American crime drama NCIS pulled in 2.4 million and a 10% share.

The shows helped Five to an all-day rating of 5.7% - its best on a Friday since December 2006.

Channel 4's A Place in the Sun: Home or Away picked up 1.4 million and a 6% share in the 8pm hour, while Derren Brown: The System attracted 2.3 million and a 10% share from 9pm.

BBC1's EastEnders won the 8pm slot with 9.8 million and a 40% share. BBC insiders claim the soap's ratings have been boosted since ITV1 changed the scheduling pattern for Coronation Street, which now airs two episodes sandwiched around it.

Friday's first visit to Weatherfield picked up 10.7 million and a 45% share from 7.30pm, while the second instalment at 8.30pm attracted 9 million and a 35% share.

BBC1's Sky Cops picked up 4.2 million and an 18% share against the first instalment of Coronation Street, while comedy Jam and Jerusalem pulled in 3.4 million and a 13% share from 8.30pm.

ITV1's Tonight attracted 3.4 million and a 14% share in the half hour from 8pm.

The fifth episodes of ITV1's linked comedy Moving Wallpaper and soap Echo Beach fell to their lowest ratings yet, again beaten by BBC1's drama repeat New Tricks.

Moving Wallpaper attracted 2.8 million and a 12% share at 9pm - down 400,000 on last week's previous low of 3.2 million.

Echo Beach pulled in 2.5 million and a 10% share from 9.30pm, also down 400,000 from last week's 2.9 million.

New Tricks arrested 4.7 million and a 20% share in the 9pm hour, down 400,000 on last week's 5.1 million.

BBC2's Natural World attracted 2.4 million and a 10% share between 8pm and 8.50pm, with new series The Choir - Boys Don't Sing picking up 2.4 million and a 10% share in the 9pm hour on the same network.

BBC1 won the 10pm slot with its news pulling in 5.6 million viewers and a 26% share over 35 minutes; while ITV1's Al Murray's Happy Hour attracted 2.4 million and a 12% share over an hour from 10pm.

BBC2's repeat of panel show QI pulled in 2.2 million and a 10% share over 30 minutes from 10pm; while Channel 4's new series Alan Carr's Celebrity Ding Dong attracted 2 million and a 10% share over 50 minutes from 10pm.

Five's Law and Order: Special Victims Unit repeat scored 1.6 million and an 8% share in the 10pm hour.

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