Steve Coogan's latest comic creation Saxondalegot off to a respectable start last night, bringing in 2 million (10%) to BBC2 at 10pm.
Steve Coogan's latest comic creation Saxondalegot off to a respectable start last night, bringing in 2 million (10%) to BBC2 at 10pm.

The seven part series, which sees Coogan star as roadie turned pest control expert, Tommy Saxondale, managed to hold a largely stable audience throughout its 30-minute run.

The show was up on the channel's current Monday night slot average at 10pm of 1.8 million (8.3%) and had a comfortable victory over its nearest rivals.

The penultimate part of Channel 4's 60-minute The Play's the Thing, also at 10pm gained just 700,000 (4.2%) while Five's US drama series Big Love took 900,000 (5.8%).

ITV1's Emmerdale, once again in a 10pm slot, had the edge over BBC1 with 4.8 million (24.1%) while the corporation's news bulletin at 10.10pm got 4.5 million (25%).

C4 found the going tough at 8pm with its new history series The War of the Worldas the 60-minute programme could only gain 1 million (4.5%). It lost out to Five's Philip and Elizabethmonarchy series on 1.4 million (6.2%). BBC2 once again had the edge over its nearest rivals with a double helping of re-runs of How to Watch Wildlife. The first edition at 8pm had 2 million (9.5%) while the second, 30-minutes later, had 2.1 million (9%).

The daily update of events in the Big Brother house regained some lost ground for C4 at 9pm with 4.7 million (20.2%) over 60-minutes. The reality show peaked at 9.30pm with 5.1 million (21.6%).

Big Brothermanaged a convincing victory over ITV1's For One Night Only: City Cowboys, in the same slot, with 3.7 million (15.9%).

Earlier in the day, Five's new US medical sitcom Beckerat 6.30pm got off to a sluggish start with 500,000 (2.6%).

All-hours shares for Monday 19 June 2006: BBC1 - 26.9%, ITV1 - 21.1%, C4 - 9.9%, BBC2 - 7.9%, Five 5%, multichannel - 29.3%.

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