TV ratings: Uruguay penalties win night

Uruguay's controversial World Cup quarter final win on penalties against Ghana on Friday 2 July attracted nearly 7 million viewers on ITV1 and ITV1 HD. Full coverage of the match, from 7pm until a later-than-scheduled finish due to extra time and penalties at 10.30pm, averaged 6.81 million viewers and a 33.8% audience share – the most watched programme on any channel on Friday. Viewing hit a peak of 10.046 million (44.2%) across ITV1 and ITV1 HD in the quarter-hour from 10pm during the penalty shoot out – impressive figures for a match not featuring England. The afternoon saw a head-to-head clash between the tennis action at Wimbledon and Friday's other World Cup quarter final match. Andy Murray's defeat by Rafael Nadal on Centre Court helped BBC1's Friday afternoon Wimbledon coverage to an average of 3.747 million (32.8%) between 1.45pm and 6.30pm, with the 6pm news bulletin switched to BBC2. Holland's 2-1 World Cup win over Brazil averaged 2.839 million (27.6%) on ITV1 and ITV1 HD between 2.30pm and 5pm. The football had a bigger audience for about half the time it was up against Wimbledon, with the ratings for BBC1's tennis coverage growing appreciably after the live football finished between 4.30pm and 4.45pm. BBC1's Wimbledon 2010 averaged 5.633 million (39%) between 4.45pm and 6.30pm. Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, which only has two weeks left to run before Ross quits the BBC, continues to win its 10.35pm slot, with 3.243 million (21.5%) thanks to guests Robin Williams, Elle Macpherson and Tim Minchin. Competition included Big Brother, featuring Davina McCall's eviction interview, with 2.3 million (13.6%) on Channel 4 and another 178,000 (1.9%) on Channel 4 +1. Earlier, the main Friday edition of Big Brother had 2.169 million (9.6%) in the 9pm hour, with another 165,000 (0.8%) on Channel 41. Five main terrestrial analogue networks BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel Five (available in all UK homes with TV, except Five, which reaches about 95%) BBC1 7pm: Animal 24:7 – 3.94 million/24.1% BBC2 8pm: Today at Wimbledon – 708,000/3.5% 9pm: Gardeners' World – 1.389/6.2% ITV1 5pm: The Chase – 1.892 million/13%, ITV1 HD 126,000/0.8% 10:40pm: James Corden's World Cup Live – 1.517 million/9.3%, ITV1 HD 435,000/2% Channel 4 9pm: The IT Crowd – 1.719 million/8%, C4+1 219,000/1.6% Five 9pm: The Mentalist – 1.372 million/6.1% All ratings are unofficial overnight figures, including live and same day timeshifted (recorded) viewing, but excluding on demand, HD, +1 or other – unless otherwise stated • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".