Ratings Watch for week ending March 27
After almost 16 years the much-hyped return of Dr Who — this time in his ninth incarnation —delivered BBC 1 a rare Saturday night ratings victory over ITV1 's golden boys Ant and Dec.
Around 10 million tuned in to watch the all-new escapades of the cult sci-fi hero, now played by Christopher Ecclestone accompanied by television drama actress of the moment Billie Piper. Packed with special effects the series goes out at 7pm — perfectly scheduled for family viewing — though it remains to be seen if, post-media furore, the figures can be maintained.
Over on the Network, the Geordie duo's Saturday Night Takeaway lagged in second place with an average of 7.2 million despite a sparkling as ever cameo from England skipper David Beckham.
Earlier on in the week the Panorama special on HM Customs & Excise proved a surprise hit with viewers, pulling in one of its best audiences of the year despite clashing with Caroline Quentin's popular ITV1 family drama Life Begins. Compared to figures for the traditional 10.15pm Sunday slot, viewer numbers for the Corporation's flagship current affairs show were up by almost a third to 3.6 million.
The absence of Jamie Oliver, after his admirable School Dinners exposé series concluded last week, left Channel 4's Wednesday night schedule with something of a hole in it. The replacement programme Families at War was a dire look at two feuding brothers battling it out over the family newsagent business. The show, which at best could be described as a drawn out Little Britain sketch but without a trace of humour, pulled in just 1.7 million people at 9pm.
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