The tabloid expose of Angus Deayton propelled BBC 1's satirical Have I Got News for You to its highest ever audience, beating the debut of Big Brother 3 on Channel 4, writes Jon Rogers
According to unofficial overnights, 7.5 million (a 33.2 per cent share) watched the presenter's humiliation at 21.00 last Friday (24 May). ITV 1's repeat of Inspector Morse at 20.30 had 4.3 million (19.9 per cent).Big Brother 3 at 21.00 lured 5.8 million (25.9 per cent) to C4 and marked the channel's best ratings this year. The show peaked at 21.45 with 6.8 million (30.8 per cent). BBC 2's Timewatch - Death of a Battleship at 21.00, won 1.9 million (8.3 per cent).BBC 1's coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday (25 May) at 20.00 entertained 7.8 million (36.3 per cent). ITV 1's The Vault at 20.15 had 4.7 million (22.2 per cent), 6 million (27 per cent) saw An Audience with ... Brian Conley at 21.00 and 2DTV took 6.1 million (27.6 per cent) at 22.10.Last Wednesday (22 May) 8.1 million (37.3 per cent) watched ITV 1's The British Soap Awards at 20.00, while BBC 1's repeat of Only Fools and Horses at 20.00 amused 5.4 million (24.7 per cent).The start of MTV's The Osbournes on Sunday (26 May) drew 500,000 (4.3 per cent of multichannel homes). ER on E4 at 21.30 had 300,000 (2.2 per cent) and E Graham Norton at 22.30 pulled 200,000 (3.3 per cent).

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