ITV 1's new SAS drama starring Ross Kemp failed to shoot down BBC 1's popular crime drama Waking the Deadlast night, writes Jon Rogers
ITV 1's new SAS drama starring Ross Kemp failed to shoot down BBC 1's popular crime drama Waking the Deadlast night, writes Jon Rogers.

ITV 1's 90-minute opening episode of Ultimate Force,which follows the action-packed exploits of a team of SAS soldiers, managed to interest only 5.8 million (27 per cent share), according to unofficial overnights. BBC 1's Waking the Deadmeanwhile, with the start of its 'Special Relationship' storyline, left the opposition trailing with 7.7 million (34.3 per cent). BBC 1's news bulletin at 22.00 had 5.7 million (28.4 per cent).

Outside of peaktime at 23.05 ITV 1's documentary Palestine is Still the Issue: a Special Report by John Pilgerhad 1 million (12.8 per cent) while BBC 1's Johnny Vaughan Tonight averaged 1.7 million (19.8 per cent).

On Channel 4 Dispatches, the first of three programmes investigating the country's prostitution laws at 21.00, attracted 1.5 million (6.8 per cent) but BBC 2's comedy Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crispsat 21.00 took 2.3 million (10.3 per cent) while Liarat 21.30 had 2.1 million (9.5 per cent). Channel 5 rated 1.1 million (5.6 per cent) at 21.00 for its film Down and Out in Beverly Hills.

ITV 1 secured another peaktime victory with a share of 35 per cent to BBC 1's 31.3 per cent. BBC 2 averaged 8.5 per cent with C4 on 5.9 per cent and C5 on 3.6 per cent.

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