Elf gets a spritely 5.3m for C4

Channel 4's festive film Elf pulled in the viewers yesterday, with an impressive audience of 5.3m (27.3%) at 6.15pm.

The 2003 movie starring Will Ferrell hit a high of 6m (24.8%) at 7.15pm. Elf then picked up an audience of 500,000 on C4+1 an hour later.

The film had a larger total audience than when it premiered on the channel on 2 December last year, when 5.4m (22.5%) tuned in.

The Channel 4 film not only had more viewers than its nearest rivals but also ITV1 too.

The commercial network managed 3.6m (18.2%) for its film Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones at 4.05pm. Its teen drama series Britannia High slipped to a new low at 7pm with just 1.8m (7.3%) watching for an hour.

Whilst Elf was on air BBC2 made steady, if unspectacular, progress. Long Way Down at 6.10pm attracted 1.7m (7.5%) which was followed by a repeat of Natural World at 7.10pm with 1.9m (7.7%).

Five's action movie Firefox gained a respectable 1.4m (6.2%) from 5.15pm. Its news update at 7.45pm had 1.1m (4.3%).

BBC1 initially struggled against Channel 4 with its repeat showing of the last two episodes of Little Dorrit gaining 2.8m (13%). The corporation took a commanding leading at 7pm with with two hour Sports Personality of the Year bringing in 6.6m (25.7%).

Peter Kay

Comedian Peter Kay proved his worth to Channel 4 as 2.7m (10.2%) watched a repeat of his popular satire Britain's Got the Pop Factor between 8pm and 9.55pm.

ITV1 was in a much stronger position at 8pm with its hospital drama The Royal on 4.8m (17.9%). BBC2's repeat of Coast at 8pm had 2m (7.5%). Just a little way behind BBC2 at the time was Five's 2004 movie 50 First Dates with 1.8m (6.8%).

Source: BroadcastNow