BBC2 had a disastrous peaktime performance last night (9 July) as its best performing show was a repeat of Napolelon's Lost Army with only 1.5 million (7.9%), writes Jon Rogers.

BBC2 had a disasterous peaktime performance last night (9 July) as its best performing show was a repeat of Napoleon's Lost Armywith only 1.5 million (7.9%), writes Jon Rogers.

The corporation's second terrestrial channel has been averaging an audience share of 11% so far this year but last night it could only manage 6.5% as its peaktime schedule was dominated by a series of documentaries that mostly just got over 1 million viewers.

Homeground: The Alexander Archive at 19.30 got 1.2 million (8.3%) and 1 million (5.4%) stayed to see a repeat of Building the Impossibleat 20.00. Next up, at 20.50, was a repeat of What the Victorians Did For Uswith 1.1 million (5.7%), followed by Napoleon's Lost Armyat 21.00 - the night's best performer with 1.5 million (7.9%). BBC2's audience then almost halved as The Money Programme's Gambling on the Wargot just 875,000 (4.5%).

Rival Channel 4 took full advantage, taking a peaktime share of 15%, although its news bulletin at 19.00 informed just 755,000 (4.6%). Location Location Location Revisitedat 20.00 drew 3.2 million (17.8%) and the finale of How Clean is Your House?30-minutes later had an impressive 4.1 million (20.8%). Big Brotherat 22.00 also got over the 4 million mark with 4.6 million (24.1%).

Five's highlight of the evening was the film Money Trainat 22.00 which attracted 1.5 million (7.6%).

Elsewhere ITV1 imposed itself during peaktime with a strong line-up of soaps and dramas. Emmerdale, Coronation Streetand The Billall managed over 6 million viewers with Coronation Streetreaching 10.5 million (60.5%) at 19.30.

BBC1 failed to make any sort of significant impact with its line-up failing to break the 5 million mark, except for the news summary at 22.00 which got 5 million (27.9%). Besides that, Waking the Deadat 21.00 entertained 4.4 million (23.5%). Tomorrow's World Roadshow, although not helped by being scheduled against Coronation Street, still struggled with 2 million (11.6%) at 19.30.

Average peaktime shares for Wednesday 9 July: ITV1 - 32.2%, BBC1 - 21.3%, Channel 4 - 15%, BBC2 - 6.5%, Five - 5.5%, Others - 19.5%

Barb figures provided by Peaktime

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