Over the 60-minute show, broadcast at 9pm, Channel 4 averaged 5.3m and a 20% share, but it was ITV that secured the lion's share of viewers with 8.4m, or 35%, tuning into crime drama 'Midsomer Murders' during the same time slot.
'Big Brother' managed to eclipse BBC One paranormal drama 'Sea of Souls', which attracted 4.7m, or 18%, and BBC Two's 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks' with 1.9m, or 7%. Five struggled to captivate audiences, with the Samuel L Jackson and Kevin Spacey film 'The Negotiator' securing 1.7m, or 6%.
Viewing figures for the 2005 series of 'Celebrity Big Brother' compare well with previous outings. The 2002 series won by former Take That member Mark Owen was watched by an average 5.4m, or 30%, and the 2001 series won by comedian Jack Dee managed 5.6m or 30%. This year's figure stands at 5.3m, or 20%.
However, the celebrities do not have the pulling power of the wannabes. Last year's 'Big Brother' finale was watched by 9m, giving Channel 4 a 48% audience share as transsexual Nadia scooped the big prize.
The audience share was down by 10% on this year's final, yet this has more to do with the rise of multichannel TV giving viewers a greater choice of shows to watch than the waning popularity of the show.
Happy Monday's dancer Bez became the shock winner of Channel 4's 'Celebrity Big Brother' last night with 54% of the votes, while bookies' favourite and Blazin' Squad member Kenzie came second with 46% of the public vote.
Sylvester Stallone's former wife Brigitte Nielsen came in third place.
Bez was 4/1 from 8/1 to win after Friday night's suprise double eviction of Caprice and former 'Holby City' actor Jeremy Edwards, but 19-year-old Kenzie has been firm favourite to win the show for over a week with odds shortening to 1/6 from 1/2.
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