ITV’s referendum debate between David Cameron and Nigel Farage drew an average of 4 million viewers, making it the most popular current affairs show so far this year.
The showdown between the Ukip leader and the prime minister, who answered questions in turn from a live studio audience, was the most watched programme at 9pm hitting a five-minute peak audience of 4.6 million.
Interest in the primetime standoff, in which Farage was accused of racism, matched the audience for the BBC general election debate last April, although it was still some way short of ITV’s leaders’ debate with all seven party leaders.
All the major broadcasters, along with other media sites such as Facebook and BuzzFeed, have planned debates in the run-up to the 23 June referendum.
The ITV debate with Farage and the prime minister attracted double the audience of the BBC’s first debate hosted by Victoria Derbyshire on 26 May. How should I vote? The EU Debate, aimed at younger voters, attracted an overnight audience of 2 million.
However, the first of a four-part series of Andrew Neil interviews on BBC1 on Monday night attracted an audience of 2.3 million to watch the relatively low-profile Hilary Benn. Neil’s second interview with chancellor George Osborne airs at 7.30 on BBC1.
The BBC has two more Question Time specials planned with the prime minister and prominent Leave campaigner Michael Gove after Cameron refused to appear against his Conservative colleagues. There will also be a live debate at Wembley arena on 21 June, although the panellists have not yet been confirmed.
Tuesday night’s Brexit debate, hosted by Julie Etchingham, saw each leader face half an hour of questions on the economy, immigration, security and sovereignty from the 200-strong audience.
The programme drew a 20% share of all TV viewers between 9pm and 10pm, beating the final of BBC1 drama In the Club.
ITV said the debate hit the top trending topic worldwide on Twitter during the broadcast.
