The debut of the latest series of The Voice attracted an average audience of 8 million on Saturday, down 400,000 on last year as viewers adjusted to the absence of Kylie Minogue as a judge on the BBC talent show.
The debut of the fourth series of The Voice hit a 15-minute peak audience of 9.1 million, with a 35.9% share of the total TV audience from 7pm.
The launch could not match the debut of the 2014 series which managed an average audience of 8.4 million, thanks to the star power of Minogue who helped bring in 2 million more viewers than the 2013 debut.
However, The Voice was by a long shot the most-watched show on UK TV on Saturday - the nearest rivals were BBC1’s new show featuring magicians including Dynamo, Now You See It (6.30pm: 5 million/25.3%) and Casualty (9.20pm: 5 million/23.6%).
This year’s judging panel includes old hands Tom Jones, Will.i.am and Ricky Wilson with Rita Ora filling Minogue’s shoes.
On ITV, the new series of Harry Hill’s Stars in their Eyes managed an average of 3.6 million viewers and a 16% share of total viewing from 7pm.
Channel 4 repeated the debut of the fifth series launch of The Restoration Man from last week, which drew 700,000 viewers and a 3% share of total TV viewing from 7pm.
On Channel 5 Worst Weather Ever?, part of the broadcaster’s themed “Storm Night”, managed 500,000 viewers and a 2.4% share from 7pm.
BBC2’s The Last Days of Anne Boleyn drew 1.7 million and a 7.7% share of viewing from 7.30pm.
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
