ITV drama The Great Fire debuted with almost 5 million viewers on Thursday evening; the broadcaster’s biggest audience at 9pm since the World Cup.
The four-part series, written by ITV News political editor Tom Bradby, premiered with an average of 4.9 million viewers and a 23.4% share from 9pm.
ITV had a strong evening overall, with Tonight special Ebola - Are We Prepared? averaging 3.2 million and a 15% share from 7.30pm. It was Tonight’s biggest audience since May.
The sixth episode of Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs proved to be the most popular of the series to date, like The Great Fire winning its slot for ITV and attracting 4.6 million and a 22.4% share from 8.30pm.
Elsewhere the return of BBC1’s Watchdog drew 3.2 million and a 15% share between 8pm and 9pm.
On BBC2 Peaky Blinders attracted 1.6 million and a 7.6% share between 9pm and 10pm.
On Channel 4 the penultimate episode of Educating the East End attracted 1.3 million and a 5.7% share between 9pm and 10pm.
The final part of Channel 5’s No Foreigners Here: 100% British drew 700,000 and a 2.9% share between 9pm and 10pm.
All ratings are Barb overnight figures, including live, +1 (except for BBC channels) and same-day timeshifted (recorded) viewing, but excluding on demand, or other – unless otherwise stated. Figures for BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 generally include ratings for their HD simulcast services, unless otherwise stated
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