The first episode of the eight-part series attracted a 29.1% share of the audience in the 9pm slot, according to unofficial overnight figures.
The new series, also named after a David Bowie song, features the return of Philip Glenister in his acclaimed role as DCI Gene Hunt.
Hunt, who has moved from Manchester to the Metropolitan Police in 1981, is joined by a new sidekick, DI Alex Drake, played by Keeley Hawes, who has travelled back in time having been shot in 2008.
In the same slot, ITV1's 'Trial and Retribution' was watched by 5.1m viewers and a 21.1% share, well below last week's audience of 6.1m viewers.
Channel 4's double-episode of 'Jamie at Home' held its audience from last week. The first episode at 8pm pulled in 2.1m viewers and an 8.7% share, while its second outing on Channel 4+1 brought the total audience to 2.2m viewers and a 9.4% share.
The second episode at 8.30pm brought 2m viewers and an 8.2% share. Including Channel 4+1, the audience figures rose to 2.2m viewers and a 9.8% share.
ITV1's experimental drama 'Moving Wallpaper' and its sister show 'Echo Beach' continue to impress the critics, but fail to build strong audiences.
This week's repeat showing of 'Moving Wallpaper', a satirical drama starring Ben Miller about the making of a soap, drew 1.1m viewers and a 7.8% share at 10.35pm.
'Echo Beach', the fictional soap in 'Moving Wallpaper', picked up 652,000 viewers and a 6.1% share at 11:05pm.
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