Crime helped both major channels to get ahead in a packed field in the 9pm-10pm slot, with BBC One securing second place with 3m viewers for Nick Ross-fronted documentary 'The Truth About Crime'.
'Car Crime UK' boasted Sir Trevor MacDonald and footage from no less than 50 cameras, giving it the edge with a 14.1% share to BBC One's 13.5%.
With viewers otherwise facing a choice between 'CSI: Miami' and 'Big Brother', BBC Two profited for the first episode in its new six-part drama series 'Desperate Romantics'.
Set in 19th century London and following the rise of a new breed of artists called the pre-Raphaelites, 'Desperate Romantics' earned 2.5m and a 10.9% share.
It came in just behind 'CSI: Miami', which managed 2.5m viewers and an 11.3% share for Five, and just ahead of 'Big Brother', which gave Channel 4 2.3m viewers and a 10% share.
Another 427,000 viewers caught the reality series on Channel 4+1.
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