The time travelling cop drama, which owes a debt to Seventies shows such as 'The Sweeney', features a critically acclaimed 'Good Cop, Bad Cop' double act from John Simm as DI Sam Tyler and Philip Glenister as his neanderthal boss Gene Hunt.
It pulled in a share of 23.4% and attracted 5.7m viewers, according to unofficial overnights.
ITV1's live coverage of the Champions League clash between Lille and Manchester United picked up 5m viewers and a 21.1% share. The match was dogged by controversy both on and off the pitch.
On the field of play, the Lille coaching staff were so incensed by a quickly taken Giggs free kick that they encouraged their players to leave the pitch. In the stands, riot police fired tear gas into an overcrowded section of United fans.
BBC One scheduled three programmes against ITV1's football coverage, beginning with 'EastEnders', then 'Holby City', and ending with 'Life On Mars'.
'EastEnders' pulled 9m and a 40.6% share, while 'Holby City' kept up the pressure on ITV1 by pulling in 6m and a 25.4% share.
Channel 4's fourth series of 'Shameless', the off-beat drama about an anarchic Mancunian family, continues to be something of a disappointment compared to the hype surrounding previous runs.
It pulled in 2.9m and a 16.3% share in the 10pm time slot, with BBC Two's 'Newsnight' and a Champions League round up on ITV1 proving more popular.
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