Masterchef tops primetime ratings for second night running

Masterchef was Friday evening's highest-rated show outside of soaps with an audience of 4.57 million (20.1%).



According to overnight data, Masterchef peaked with 4.78 million viewers, narrowly outperforming Have I Got News For You with 4.54 million (21.2%) at 9pm.

BBC One's evening began with an audience of 3.32 million (19.2%) for The One Show at 7pm, followed by 2.99 million (15.5%) for A Question of Sport at 7.30pm.

An Outnumbered repeat was seen by a slightly increased audience of 2.89 million (14.2%) at 9.30pm, while The Graham Norton Show picked up 2.97 million viewers (22.8%) at 10.35pm.

This week's guests included Brenda Blethyn, Stephen Mangan and French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier. Approximately 940k (10.7%) watched Bad Education immediately after.

Over on ITV, Lewis was the channel's highest-rated show outside of soaps for the second week running, attracting 2.74 million viewers (13.2%) at 9pm.

It narrowly edged out this week's episode of Weekend Escapes with Warwick Davis, which entertained an average of 2.55 million viewers (12%) at 8pm.

After last week's snooker, BBC Two returned to its regularly scheduled programming, starting with 1.58 million (8.2%) for Great British Menu at 7.30pm.

It was followed by 1.67 million (7.9%) for The Minister at 8pm, 1.19 million (8%) for Gardener's World at 8.30pm and 1.19 million (5.7%) for Natural World between 9-10pm.

The Trip to Italy and Newsnight ended the evening with respective viewers of 910k (5.2%) and 410k (2.9%).

Gogglebox once again proved a ratings success for Channel 4, entertaining 2.72 million (13%) at 9pm, followed by 1.45m (9.2%) for Alan Carr: Chatty Man at 10pm. Elsewhere, Marvel's Agents of SHIELD played to an increased audience of 1.03 million (4.7%) at 8pm.

Channel 5's highest-rated show was NCIS with 1.18 million (5.7%) at 9pm. It was preceded by 962k (4.4%) for Ice Road Trucker at 8pm and was followed by 715k (4.4%) for NCIS: Los Angeles at 10pm.

Family Guy once again proved popular on BBC Three, peaking with 550k (10.1%) for the 12.15am episode.

Fridays are a TV desert for me, I seldom even bother turning the set on.