ITV1 was the first channel to broadcast the first of three debates in the run-up to the general election, winning an average audience of 9.5 million in its last hour (9pm and 10pm), 37% of the audience share.
'First Election Debate' scored double the ratings of BBC1, a figure usually only equalled by TV soaps competing for ratings.
While strong figures for a political show, the debate's performance was well below the 20 million speculated in many parts of the national media.
Scheduled during same time slot, topical quiz show 'Have I Got News For You' on BBC1 mustered 4.3 million, a 16.6% audience, share between 9pm and 9.30 pm, followed by 'Outnumbered' from 9.30pm to 10pm, which saw an increase in channel viewing to 4.6 million, 18% of audience share.
Fly-on-the-wall documentary 'How the Other Half Live' on Channel 4 had 1.4 million viewers, 5.3% of audience share.
'Welcome to Lagos,' the first in a series of three documentaries focusing on Nigeria's coastal city on BBC2 had 1.2 million viewers, 4.6% of audience share.
Viewers disinterested by politics and current affairs turned to Five to watch Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in 'Welcome to the Jungle' on Five, scoring 1 million viewers, a 4.3% audience share. Just 2,000 people watched 'BBC Four Sessions' on BBC HD, a 0.01% audience share.
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