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ITV1 loses out in ratings battle

The controversial fifth series of Big Brother is a Channel 4 hit
ITV1 has recorded its worst ever monthly ratings in a battle for audiences that has seen Channel 4 post its best figures in two years.
ITV1 recorded its worst monthly ratings for July, as well as its lowest ever weekly audience share last week.

Channel 4 recorded its highest monthly figures since July 2002 thanks to the success of reality series like Big Brother and Wife Swap.

Channel 4's coverage of England's Test cricket victories also contributed.

ITV1 said the poor ratings were a symptom of the summer months, and viewers watching sports such as BBC One's Euro 2004 football championships and Wimbledon coverage.

Sunday night drama - traditionally an ITV1 stronghold - also proved a disappointment, with BBC One's detective drama Waking the Dead beating ITV1's flagship Island at War.

'Robust line-up'

"All terrestrial channels now compete in an increasingly competitive environment and the summer months often see a drop in overall viewing," an ITV1 spokeswoman told BBC News Online.

"ITV has this week unveiled a robust autumn line-up of original drama and innovative entertainment which we are confident will perform strongly," she said.

Channel 4 confirmed details of the July ratings but did not comment.

ITV1's weekly 19.9% audience share for the seven days to 1 August - according to unofficial figures - is the first time it has fallen below 20% over a period of a week.

ITV1's monthly ratings were 21.1% for the five weeks to 1 August.

Channel 4's monthly figures were 12.5%, their highest since the days of Big Brother 3 in July 2002.

Channel 4's recent reality double bill of Wife Swap and Big Brother attracted more than 6m viewers every Monday and Tuesday for three weeks.

BBC News

Quote:

Ratings triumph for Nadia and Big Brother

Sex, fights and a Portuguese transsexual give TV show that started as a 'harmless little social experiment' a new lease of life

She used to be a he, she's foreign - and not just foreign, but from the country that dumped England out of Euro 2004. Yet Nadia (née Jorge) Almada has triumphed.
And now Britain is feeling quite pleased with itself for being such a tolerant nation and crowning a chain-smoking, cackling, Portuguese transsexual the winner of Big Brother. Some 3.9 million people voted for Nadia.

Even the Sun got behind her, though they couldn't quite accept that she is now a woman, insisting on calling her the "Portu-geezer".

It wasn't a difficult choice in the end. It was either Nadia or the vain Jason, who was still hoping for the housewives' vote. After Dan had left (the best exit: he looked like Yul Brynner in the Magnificent Seven), they sat on the sofa together, waiting for Davina to deliver the verdict. Jason had his arm round Nadia but it looked more like he wanted to break her neck than anything affectionate.

"Oh my God," wailed Nadia, hyperventilating, when she learned she had finally been accepted and was the winner.

Outside, Nadia's mother, over from Madeira, looked puzzled at her daughter's new overseas celebrity status. They hadn't seen each other for a year. Her father didn't make it, which is probably a good thing. The last time he saw Nadia, she was a he. It was all a bit much for Nadia.

Full Article Guardian