The Michael McIntyre Chat Show launched with over 2 million viewers on Monday night, according to overnight data.
The comic's new series entertained 2.41m (21.9%) at 10.35pm on BBC One, with special guests Sir Terry Wogan, Lord Alan Sugar and Lily Allen.
Earlier, Bang Goes the Theory returned with 3.81m (17.5%) at 7.30pm, while Silk continued with 3.94m (17.1%) at 9pm.
BBC Two's University Challenge quizzed 3.00m (13.2%) at 8pm, followed by Mary Berry Cooks with 2.75m (11.9%) at 8.30pm. Mind the Gap: London vs the Rest intrigued 1.31m (5.7%) at 9pm.
On ITV, DCI Banks dropped over 100,000 but was still on top overall outside of soaps with 4.41m (19.2%) at 9pm (411k/2.7% on +1). I Never Knew That About Britain appealed to 3.32m (14.6%) at 8pm (107k/0.5%).
Channel 4's Food Unwrapped gathered 1.08m (4.7%) at 8pm (130k/0.6%), followed by One Born Every Minute with 2.14m (9.3%) at 9pm (272k/1.8%) and 8 Out of 10 Cats with 1.10m (7.0%) at 10pm (140k/1.7%).
On Channel 5, Police Interceptors brought in 1.06m (4.6%) at 8pm, while Can't Pay? We'll Take It Away! was seen by 1.62m (7.0%) at 9pm (165k/1.1%).
BBC Three's documentary EDL Girls: Don't Call Me Racist interested 570k (2.5%) at 9pm.
On E4, Revenge continued with 425k (1.8%) at 9pm, while My Mad Fat Diary amused 425k (2.8%) at 10pm. On Sky1, Modern Family tickled 442k (1.9%) at 8.30pm.
