Dancing on Ice back with 8.4m

ITV1 ratings banker Dancing on Ice returned for a new series last night with a strong 8.4m viewers (32.4% share) at 7pm, slightly down on last year.

The initial 90 minute show, scheduled slightly later than last year's run, peaked with an impressive 9m (33.5%) at 8pm. It was up by 44.8% on the channel's slot average for last year of 5.8m (24.8%).

While the show – now in its fourth series - remains one of the commercial network's key formats, last year's opening edition fared slightly better, attracting 8.9m (36.1%) in an earlier slot of 5.50pm on 13 January.

Yesterday's show improved its standing with both of the commercially sensitive demographic groups. Upmarket ABC1 viewers made up 37.5% of last night's show compared with 36.9% for the equivalent show last year. Similarly, viewers aged between 16 and 34 accounted for 17.9% of those watching yesterday, compared with 17.5% for last year.

The talent show had a comfortable victory over its nearest rival BBC1 at the time. The corporation's Antiques Roadshow lost 1.5m viewers from last week to average 6.4m (24.9%) over an hour from 7pm. Lark Rise to Candleford at 8pm also felt the impact of ITV1's show, losing 600,000 from last week with 5.7m viewers (21.7%).

ITV1 remained in poll position at 8.30pm with the return of another old favourite, Wild at Heart. The fourth series of the drama kicked off with a solid 7.2m (27.5%) over an hour.

Dancing on Ice then returned at 9.30pm for the half-hour results show with 6.7m (26.2%) watching as Graeme Le Saux was the first contestant to be voted out of the competition.

Source: BroadcastNow