TV ratings: Five's Liverpool v Lille coverage beats The Bill

Live coverage of Liverpool's 3-0 Europa League win over Lille made Channel Five the second most-watched network in the 9pm hour last night, Thursday, 18 March. Five's live coverage attracted 3.693 million viewers and a 15.4% share in the 9pm hour, according to unofficial overnights. Over two hours of live coverage from 8pm, the match averaged 3.504 million (14.3%). Last night's Europa League coverage was Five's most popular live football since Newcastle's Uefa Cup quarter final in April 2005 and helped the network to a bigger daily share (7.1%) than BBC2 or Channel 4. Earlier yesterday, live coverage of Fulham's remarkable 4-1 victory over Juventus in the Europa League averaged 167,000 (0.8%) on ESPN over two hours from 6pm. Five scored a rare ratings victory over ITV1 in the 9pm hour, with the football nipping ahead of The Bill, which had 3.507 million (14.6%). BBC1's Sport Relief special, Million Pound Bike Round, took top spot for ratings in the slot, attracting 4.95 million (20.6%). ITV2's Katie Price documentary series What Katie Did Next took fourth spot in the 9pm hour, ahead of competition on BBC2 and Channel 4 with 1.512 million (6.3%). The People's Politician had 1.059 million (4.4%) on BBC2 in the slot, while Channel 4's Cutting Edge documentary, The Lady and the Revamp, about The Lady editor Rachel Johnson's efforts to modernise the magazine, drew 1.005 million (4.2%). A further 168,000 (0.9%) watched an hour later on Channel 4+1. New BBC2 documentary series Museum of Life, a behind-the-scenes look at the Natural History Museum, opened with 1.64 million (6.5%) in the 8pm hour. Competition included BBC1's MasterChef with 4.256 million (16.8%) and Channel 4's Country House Rescue, which attracted 1.589 million (6.3%). Another 213,000 (0.9%) watched on Channel 4+1. ITV1's soap double bill dominated the 8pm hour, as usual, with Emmerdale (7.188 million, 29%) and Coronation Street (7.823 million, 30.3%). The most-watched show yesterday was EastEnders on BBC1, with 8.952 million (38.1%) from 7.30pm. BBC3's narrative repeat of EastEnders attracted a further 804,000 (4%) at 10pm. Then the final instalment of Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man brought 1.045 million (7.5%) to BBC3 in the hour from 10.30pm. Skins ended its fourth series on E4 with 728,000 (4.1%) in the 10pm hour. The second instalment of Sky1's sports panel show A League of Their Own had 362,000 (1.5%) in the half hour from 9pm, down from 527,000 (2.3%) last week. It was followed at 9.30pm by the launch of new US adult animation import Glenn Martin, DDS, which attracted 100,000 (0.4%). • 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".