If the US figures are anything to go by, Channel 4, which attracted a peak of 5m viewers for the first UK episode, should be looking at drawing in at least 1.5m more viewers -- making the show the most watched US import on the channel since 'Lost' debuted in August with 6.4m.
Even the second series debut of 'Lost' on ABC last week could not displace the ladies of Wisteria Lane with 23.4m viewers tuning in, the biggest audience for the show so far, to see the hotly anticipated first episode of the mysterious show.
On Sunday night in the US, popular NBC series 'Crossing Jordan' could not even muster half the audience of ABC with 13.2m viewers. Ratings dipped further with only 8.9m tuning into the hit series 'The West Wing'.
The only other US programme to come close to 'Desperate Housewives' was a new episode of 'The Simpsons' on Fox with 10.2m.
'Desperate Housewives' was a hit for Channel 4 last year, attracting an average 4.8m viewers a week, more than doubling Channel 4's usual audience share from 10% to 24% in its Thursday night slot.
It was also the broadcaster's most popular launch since US hospital drama 'ER' in 1994, which attracted just over the 5m mark.
The black comedy-drama follows the lives of middle-aged women living in an affluent American suburb after their friend commits suicide. It stars one-time Bond girl Teri Hatcher, Eva Longorio, Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman and Nicolette Sheridan.
Channel 4 is due to air the second series early next year. The first series sponsor, Herbal Essences, is believed to be returning with new break bumpers based around its "I like to do it when..." proposition.
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