The channel backed the launch of the show with an extensive advertising campaign, which has proven to be anything but a guarantee for grabbing viewers' attention, as demonstrated by the last July.
Last night's show apparently impressed Times critic Andrew Billen, who gave it four out of five despite a mostly negative review sniffing at its casting. Billen at least said he thought the show would be successful, while The Herald simply concluded: "Limp & Old. Yuck".
Some viewers did melt away during the hour, which started with an audience of 6.9m and finished with 6.1m.
They mostly turned over to BBC One's 'Who Do You Think You Are?', which began with 5.3m and finished with 5.9m. The family history show, which this week followed 'My Family' actress Zoe Wanamaker, averaged 5.7m viewers and a 23.3% share.
Millions succumbed to BBC Two's opium for the middle classes -- the final of 'University Challenge' at 8pm-8.30pm and the start of a four-night final week of 'Masterchef'.
Boosted by press coverage of Oxford university brainbox Gail Trimble, the quiz show drew in 5.3m viewers and a 20.8% share.
'Masterchef', which will climax with an hour-long show at 8pm-9pm on Thursday, managed 4.5m and a 17.6% share at 8pm-8.30pm.
Channel 4's 8pm-9pm audience totalled 1.1m for a 'Dispatches' programme on how the roles adopted by Princes William and Harry are shaping the monarchy for the future. Another 200,000 viewers watched it on Channel 4+1.
The channel's aristocrats and criminals documentary series continued at 9pm-10pm with 'The Real Casino Royale', a look at the life of John Aspinall, who ran gambling houses for the wealthy and was a friend of Lord Lucan.
However, viewers were thin on the ground, with just 1m tuning in, giving C4 a 3.9% share; including Channel 4+1 figures 1.1m watched.
BBC Two attracted 2.4m (a 9.6% share) in the same slot with US import 'Heroes', while Five's 9pm-11.30pm film 'The 6th Day' brought in 900,000 (a 5% share).
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