TV ratings: Married Single Other seduces 6.2 million

ITV1's new comedy drama Married Single Other made a promising start last night, Monday 22 February, attracting more than 6 million viewers. EastEnders also continued to ride high in the ratings, with the aftermath of Friday's live episode, and the revelation that Stacey Branning murdered Archie, topping 11 million viewers. Married Single Other, a six-parter with an ensemble cast featuring Lucy Davis, Dean Lennox Kelly and Ralf Little, launched with 6.221 million viewers and a 25.5% share in the 9pm hour, according to unofficial overnights. This was four percentage points above the ITV1 all-individuals average audience for the slot, and six points up on the ABC1 adults slot average. Competition in the 9pm hour included a New Tricks repeat on BBC1 with 4.335 million (17.8%) and Channel Five's movie repeat The Bone Collector, which had 1.308 million (6.7%) over nearly two and a half hours. EastEnders brought 11.421 million (43%) to BBC1 in the half hour from 8pm – the most watched show of the day. ITV1's two Coronation Street episodes also topped 10 million viewers last night, with the 8.30pm instalment attracting 10.716 million (41.4%), edging out the 7.30pm outing's 10.624 million (43.5%). Emmerdale had 8.07 million (35.2%) in the half hour from 7pm, against 4.996 million (21.8%) for The One Show on BBC1. University Challenge drew 3.159 million (11.9%) on BBC2 from 8pm, followed by Raymond Blanc: Kitchen Secrets with 2.167 million (8.4%) in the second half of the hour. BBC2 had the final part of Peter Taylor's latest documentary series, Generation Jihad, which attracted 772,000 (3.2%) in the 9pm hour. Channel 4's Tower Block of Commons concluded its four-part run at the same time with 897,000 (3.7%). A further 142,000 (0.8%) watched an hour later on Channel 4 +1. BBC3's narrative repeat of EastEnders attracted another 967,000 (4.8%) at 10pm. Channel 4's Dispatches documentary, Kids Don't Count, had 708,000 (2.7%) in the 8pm hour, with another 116,000 (0.5%) on Channel 4 +1. On BBC1, Panorama was watched by 2.648 million (10.2%) in the half hour from 8.30pm, while in the preceding half hour ITV1 documentary series The Lakes drew 3.919 million (14.8%). BBC2's US import Nurse Jackie concluded its first series with 813,000 (4%) over 30 minutes from 10pm. Over on Channel 4 another US drama, The Good Wife, continued with 699,000 (3.9%) in the 10pm hour, and 96,000 (1%) on Channel 4 +1. E4's Glee was once again the most watched multichannel show of the day, attracting 1.163 million (4.8%) in the 9pm hour. Multichannel competition in the slot included Hell's Kitchen USA on ITV2 with 568,000 (2.3%), and the UK TV premiere of the seventh series of the most popular comedy in the US, Two and a Half Men, on Comedy Central. A double bill of the Charlie Sheen sitcom drew 265,000 (1.1%) and 257,000 (1.1%), respectively, across the 9pm hour. Over on BBC3 sitcom pilot Above Their Station, a comedy about police community support officers written by and starring Rhys Thomas, attracted 412,000 (1.7%) in the half hour from 9.30pm. Above Their Station got a leg up from a Gavin & Stacey repeat, which ran before it on BBC3 with 631,000 (2.5%). • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".