Despite getting off to a slow start with 5.2m on its launch night last Thursday, compared with 7.2m in 2002, this year's 'Celebrity Big Brother' looks set to beat both its previous series.
The 2002 series, won by former Take That member Mark Owen, was watched by an average 4.4m viewers or an 18% share, while the 2001 version, won by comedian Jack Dee, attracted an average audience of 4.9m or a 20% share. This year's series has already attracted a record 21% share average.
Typically viewing figures for reality programmes peak at the beginning, only to dip during the middle and lift at the end, when many extra viewers switch on to watch the nail-biting final.
If audiences soar past the 6m mark for this year's final, the average viewing figure for the series will pip 2001's first 'Celebrity Big Brother' and easily beat the second series.
Although the tabloids have criticised the show's producers for bringing in relative unknowns such as racing pundit John McCririck, one of the many members of Blazin' Squad, Kenzie, and sacked Radio 1 DJ Lisa I'Anson, they have proved popular with viewers.
McCririck has picked several arguments with Big Brother, feminist Germaine Greer before she walked, Jackie Stallone and 19-year-old Kenzie --making him the least popular housemate with six out of a potential eight nomination votes this week.
The arrival of surprise ninth housemate Stallone, Brigitte Nielsen's former mother-in-law, has further antagonised the housemates, and Greer walking out after five days has made for a more exciting series than the placid Owen and Melinda Messenger in series two.
Audiences have also warmed to Kenzie and Happy Monday's dancer Bez, with bookies putting them at odds of 7/4 and 2/1 to win the show respectively.
Ladbrokes spokesman Warren Lush said: "It's too close to call between Bez and Kenzie, the favourite is changing every hour. John's odds have drifted to 8/1 from 6/1 but a triumph for the racing pundit still spells disaster for the bookies.
"With news that the Fathers4Justice 'superheroes' have tried to invade the 'Big Brother' house, Ladbrokes is offering 1000/1 that John McCririck replaces Eric Bana in the next Hulk movie and 50/1 that Caprice plays Wonder Woman in a movie this year."
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