The series, which follows the lives of ordinary people who discover they have extraordinary talents, such as the power to stop time and the ability to fly, was watched by 4.4m viewers and a 19.8% share during the first 45-minute instalment at 9pm.
A second 30-minute instalment that immediately followed the first drew 4m viewers and an 18.3% share.
The audience figures for 'Heroes', which was promoted with a heavyweight marketing campaign, has given BBC Two one of its biggest ratings hits of the year, with audiences of this size normally only found on the flagship terrestrial channels BBC One and ITV1.
'Wire in the Blood' won the 9pm slot with 4.7m viewers and a 22% share in a one-hour slot.
Now in its fifth series, 'Wire in the Blood' stars Robson Green and is based on the books by the crime writer Val McDermid.
Channel 4 scheduled 'Big Brother' in the 9pm slot -- the reality series was watched by 3.5m viewers and a 15.1% share.
.jpg)
.jpg)