Raunchy drama boosts ITV2 ratings
Billie Piper’s new drama, The Secret Diary Of A Call Girl, gave UK TV channel ITV2 some of its most successful viewing figures last night.
The debut of the raunchy drama, attracted an average of 1.8 million viewers and an 11% audience share.
More viewers tuned in to the drama than to programmes showing at the same time on BBC2, Channel 4 and Five, giving ITV2 one its biggest audiences since its 1998 launch.
The Secret Diary Of A Call Girl is based on the online diary, written under the pseudonym Belle de Jour, and is ITV2’s first original commission.
Piper plays Hannah, who has a secret double life as a high-class prostitute.
The drama peaked at 2.1 million viewers and a 12.7% share at 10.05pm.
To date, the highest-rated show on a digital channel was a live Premiership football match between Manchester United and Arsenal on Sky Sports 1 in 2004, with an audience of 2.77 million.
Footballers’ Wives Extra Time holds the record for the most viewers on ITV2, attracting 1.9 million in May 2005.
