The trial of Jill Dando's killer may well have been one of the week's biggest talking points, but viewers stayed away from BBC 1's tribute programme in droves, writes Mark Banham.
According to unofficial overnights, Monday night's instalment of ITV's Emmerdale (2 July) at 19.00 clocked 7.6 million viewers (a 42 per cent share), followed by Coronation Street at 19.30 with 10.5 million (52 per cent). The haul was despite BBC 1's Jill Dando: the Story of an Investigation, which picked up a meagre 2.7 million (14 per cent) at 19.00. Later that evening at 20.30 BBC 1 ratings took another blow when Walking with Dinosaurs clawed only 4 million viewers (19 per cent), while ITV's Carol Vorderman's Better Homes hooked 5.9 million viewers (28 per cent) at 20.30.

On Wednesday (27 June) BBC 2's Food and Drink at 20.30 gained 2.5 million (12 per cent) despite direct competition from Nigella Bites on Channel 4 at 20.30 which hooked 1.8 million (18 per cent).

Sunday (1 July) saw ITV's Alter Ego entice 4.5 million (30 per cent) at 19.00 while This is Your Life on BBC 1 at 19.00 took 3.5 million (23 per cent). ITV's Where The Heart Is at 20.00 took 8.4 million (43 per cent) while BBC 1 series Speed at 20.00 ran out of gas with 4.5 million (24 per cent). BBC 1's Ultimate Killers at 20.30 pulled in 5.4 million (27 per cent).