Britain's Got Talent beats Doctor Who in Easter TV battle

chris

The opening show of ITV's Britain's Got Talent was watched by 11.8m viewers, beating a Doctor Who special in the ratings, according to overnight estimates.

The talent show was Saturday's highest-rated show, beating Doctor Who on BBC One – watched by 8.7 million people – into second place.

A peak audience of 11.8 million viewers (50 per cent viewing share) watched the return of Britain's Got Talent on ITV1.

It is the third series of the show, presented by Ant and Dec.

The show had an average of 10.3 million viewers, the highest ever series opener according to ITV and a 17 per cent increase on 2008's opening episode, which derew in 8.8 million, last April.

Judges Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden all returned on the show, which was won last year by teenage break-dancer George Sampson.

Acts on the first show included Manjit Singh, who blew into a hot water bottle until it exploded, and a Greek father-and-son dance act.

The Doctor Who 'Planet of the Dead' Easter special featured former EastEnders actress Michelle Ryan and the comedian Lee Evans.

Evans played a scientist who helped the Doctor close a "worm hole" – a temporary gateway between the Earth and another planet.

The show was the first of four Doctor Who specials marking the end of David Tennant's tenure as the Time Lord.

BBC One medical series Casualty was Saturday's third most-watched show with a peak of 6.1 million viewers, according to the estimated viewing figures.

It was followed by BBC One's Robin Hood which was watched by 5.3 million.


Source:telegraph