BBC2 and C4 triumph at 9pm

Mock the Week and Big Brother gave BBC2 and Channel 4 more viewers than either BBC1 or ITV1 at 9pm last night.

BBC2 grabbed top spot at 9pm by the narrowest of margins – just 14,000 viewers - as satirical panel show Mock the Week appealed to just under 3.3m (15%) for half an hour from 9pm. Over the half an hour its precise audience was 3.268m

C4's Big Brother though was breathing down its neck and only a whisker away with 3.3m (15.2%) over an hour. Its exact audience was 3.254m. The Brighter Pictures reality show gained a further 325,0000 an hour later on the timeshifted offering C4+1.

Both channels pulled off the rare occurrence of having larger audiences at the time than either BBC1 or ITV1 while they aired.

BBC1 wasn't too far off the pace with the 60-minute SuperDoctors on 3.2m (14.8%). Further down the field in fourth place though was ITV1's struggling Trinny and Susannah Undress the Nation on 2.4m (11%), in the same hour-long slot.

Five's live Uefa Cup action between Aston Villa and FH Hafnarfjorduc was supported by 1.3m (6.2%) between 7.30pm and 10.05pm. The audience peaked at 9pm with 1.8m (7.8%).

ITV1 was in a much stronger position at 8pm with the ever reliable The Bill claiming the spoils on 4.7m (22.5%) over the hour.

BBC1 just about kept pace with the commercial network between 8pm and 8.30pm, with Rogue Restaurants on 4.6m (22.8%). But new factual series Accidental Heroes at 8.30pm could only interest 3.5m (16.9%).

C4's How to Look Good Naked attracted 2.1m (9.4%) over an hour with another 111,000 preferring to watch the show on C4+1. Initially, BBC2 found the going tough with 1.1m (5.5%) watching Would Like to Meet Again, but the audience shot up to 2.1m (9.5%) for Dr Alice Roberts: Don't Die Young at 8.30pm.

Source: Broadcastnow