Mapp and Lucia topped the ratings outside soaps on Monday, overnight data reveals.
The BBC One drama's first episode attracted an average audience of 3.81 million (16.7%) at 9pm.
Earlier, The Muppets entertained 2.70m (12.4%) at 6.30pm, followed by a Miranda repeat with 3.04m (12.3%) at 8pm. Darcey Bussell's Looking for Audrey documentary brought in 2.23m (15.4%) at 10.35pm.
BBC Two's repeat of Nature's Weirdest Events appealed to 1.95m (9.2%) at 6.30pm, followed by a rerun of Operation Grand Canyon with 1.62m (6.8%) at 7.30pm.
Christmas University Challenge quizzed 2.32m (9.4%) at 8.30pm, while new documentary Snow Wolf Family & Me amazed 2.05m (8.9%) at 9pm.
On ITV, Countrywise gathered 2.56m (10.5%) at 8pm (129,000/0.6% on +1). Christmas Epic Fails was seen by 2.50m (10.9%) at 9pm (111k/0.6%).
Channel 4's Mini Cooper: For the Love of Cars repeat attracted 750k (3.0%) at 8pm (136k/0.6%), followed by 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown with 1.75m (7.6%) at 9pm (322k/1.8%).
On Channel 5, World's Strongest Man continued with 1.00m (4.1%) at 8pm (105k/0.5%), while The Rock thrilled 850k (4.7%) at 9pm (121k/1.0%).
BBC Three's broadcast of Shrek the Third entertained 915k (3.9%) at 8.30pm.
Finally, E4's finale of Made in Chelsea was seen by 462k (2.0%) at 9pm (140k/0.8%).
