TV ratings: 2.6m tune in for penultimate Big Brother episode

The penultimate episode of the 11th and final regular series of Big Brother on Channel 4 brought just over 2.5 million viewers to the network last night, Monday 23 August. Tonight the victor of the 2010 series will be revealed, before being joined by 11 of the most – and least–- popular housemates from the past 10 years for a further two and a half weeks, during which they will vie to be named Ultimate Big Brother winner. Last night's Big Brother was watched by 2.57 million viewers and attracted a 14% audience share from 10pm. A further 196,000 (2%) watched an hour later on Channel 4 +1. Big Brother landed second among the five main networks in its slot, beaten only by BBC1's 10pm news (4.573 million/21.3%). Other competition came from BBC2's Simon Amstell comedy Grandma's House (1.059 million/5%, BBC HD 32,000/0.15%), ITV1/ITV1 HD's News at Ten (1.908 million/9%), and Channel 5's Lethal Weapon 4 repeat (1.394 million/7%). Five main terrestrial analogue networks BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel Five (available in all UK homes with TV, except Channel 5, which reaches about 95%) BBC1 9pm: Who Do You Think You Are? - 5.8 million/23.1% BBC2 9pm: Dragons' Den - 2.694 million/10.7%, BBC HD 86,000/0.3% ITV1/ITV1 HD 9pm: Real Crime with Mark Austin - 2.579 million/10.3% Channel 4 9pm: The Hospital - 1.645 million/6.5%, C4+1 194,000/1% Channel 5 8pm: The Gadget Show - 1.242 million/5% Freeview/digital terrestrial TV free-to-air networks Available in 23.4m UK homes – 91.4% of total – as of 31/12/09. Source: Ofcom digital progress report, Q4 2009 BBC3 9.30pm: The Adventures of Daniel (new) - 361,000/1.4% BBC4 9pm: In Their Own Words: British Novelists - 163,000/0.7% All ratings are Barb overnight figures, including live and same day timeshifted (recorded) viewing, but excluding on demand, HD, +1 or other – unless otherwise stated • 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".