The first instalment of the six-part series, developed by the team behind 'Life on Mars', launched with a 30.4% share of the audience, giving BBC One the most watched programme in the coveted 9pm-10pm slot.
The new series, which is indebted to hit movie 'The Da Vinci Code' and popular US crime drama 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation', stars Julie Graham as the leader of a team that also includes 'Hustle' star Adrian Lester, which each week unearths mysteries from the past that make trouble in the present.
The first episode involved a group carrying on the work of the Knights Templar and received mixed reviews.
"It's a shame to have to say this, but things might not seem quite so exciting when the reviews of 'Bonekickers' come out next week. 'Life on Mars' it ain't. This one stretches credibility past the point of no return."
According "Itemising the absurdities of 'Bonekickers' would be pointless, I think. It knows it's complete nonsense and is simply assuming that it can be delivered with enough flair to make you forgive the fact. Indeed, forgiveness may not even be necessary. I watched with my teenage sons and we had a whale of time, hooting at the silliness of the dialogue."
ITV1's 'Doc Martin', starring Martin Clunes in the eponymous title role, had a respectable 3.3m viewers and a 14.8% share in the same slot as 'Bonekickers', despite the current run being a repeat of the second series.
Channel 4's fast-paced food magazine show 'Gordon Ramsay's F Word' pulled in 3.3m viewers and a 14.8% share in the 9pm-10pm slot. Including ratings from Channel 4+1, it drew 3.7m viewers and a 16.3% share.
Channel Five's US import 'CSI' captured 1.2m viewers and a 5.2% share at 9pm-10pm.
BBC Two's repeat of the documentary special 'Richard Hammond Meets Evel Knievel', in which the 'Top Gear' presenter spent four days with his childhood hero, Evel Knievel, shortly before the legendary stuntman's death, netted 1m viewers and a 4.4% share between 9pm-10pm.
The latest instalment of 'Big Brother' brought Channel 4 a steady 3.2m viewers and an 18.6% share in the 10pm-11.05pm slot. Channel 4+1 took the reality show's ratings up to 3.4m viewers and a 19.8% share.
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