Benidorm secures ratings victory over The Musketeers

Benidorm was Friday's (January 3) highest rated show outside of soaps, peaking with 5.61 million viewers.



The first episode of Benidorm's seventh series was seen by an average audience of 5.38 million (23.6%) from 9pm on ITV.

In the same time slot on BBC One, The Musketeers returned to an average audience of 3.64 million (16%). The swashbuckling series was preceded by Room 101, which was seen by 3.4 million (14.7%) at 8.30pm.

Celebrity Mastermind kicked BBC One's evening off with 4.37 million (21%) at 7pm, followed by 3.71 million (16.4%) for A Question of Sport: FA Cup Special at 7.30pm. Live at the Apollo rounded things off with 1.71 million (10.2%) at 10.35pm.

Back on ITV, The Martin Lewis Money Show was seen by 2.88 million (12.4%), while Darcy Oake: Edge of Reality attracted 1.28 million (7.2%) viewers at 10.15pm.

The regular version of Mastermind was BBC Two's most popular programme, reeling in 2.34 million (10.1%) viewers at 8pm.

It was sandwiched between University Challenge with 2.27 million (10.1%) at 7.30pm and Food and Drink with 1.51 million (6.6%) at 8.30pm.

The Big Allotment Challenge followed with 1.48 million (6.5%) at 9pm, while QI and Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule attracted 1.49 million (7.4%) and 980k (6.3%) viewers, respectively.

Channel 4's schedule was dominated by The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz, which aired from 9pm until 11.05pm and drew an average audience of 2.01 million (9.7%).

Elsewhere on Channel 4, Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast was seen by 1.27 million (5.5%) at 8pm, while The Last Leg of the Year played to 1.06 million (9.5%) at 11.05pm.

Forrest Gump entertained 947k (5%) on Channel 5 at 9pm, while 799k (3.5%) tuned in to watch Ice Road Truckers at 8pm.