Prince Harry drama documentary attracts less than 1m

Despite provoking outraged headlines and a plea from the military for it not to be shown , Channel 4's drama documentary about the fictional kidnapping of Prince Harry attracted less than 1 million viewers last night, Thursday 21 October. The Taking of Prince Harry was watched by an average of 973,000 viewers and attracted a 4.5% audience share on Channel 4 and Channel 4+1. 9pm competition included BBC1's Have I Got News for You (4.639 million/19.7%) and Reggie Perrin (2.755 million/12.4%), along with BBC2's Autumnwatch (1.862 million/7.8%, BBC HD 31,000/0.1%) and Autumnwatch Unsprung (1.978 million/8.9%, 56,000/0.3%). Other competition came from ITV1/ITV1 HD's Law & Order: UK (4.602 million/20.1%) and Channel 5's Europa League Live coverage of Manchester City's 3-1 victory over Lech Poznan (1.847 million/8.1%). Five main terrestrial analogue networks BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5 (available in all UK homes with TV, except Channel 5, which reaches about 95%) BBC1 7.30pm: EastEnders – 8.238 million/37.7% BBC2 10pm: Never Mind the Buzzcocks (new series) – 1.666 million/8.8% ITV1/ITV1 HD 8.30pm: Coronation Street – 7.929 million/33.1% Channel 4 8pm: River Cottage Every Day – 1.933 million/8.2% (includes C4+1) Channel 5 10.10pm: The Glimmer Man (film rpt) – 950,000/7.7% Freeview/digital terrestrial TV free-to-air networks Available in 23.4m UK homes – 91.4% of total – as of 31/12/09. Source: Ofcom digital progress report, Q4 2009 ITV2/ITV2+1 9pm: What Katie Did Next – 1.079 million/4.7% 10pm: Celebrity Juice: N'Dubz Special – 1.157 million/6.5% BBC3 10.30pm: Russell Howard's Good News (new series) - 803,000/5.6%) Cable and satellite pay-TV networks Available in 12.4m UK homes – 48.2% of total – as of 31/12/09. Source: Ofcom digital progress report, Q4 2009 Sky1 9pm: An Idiot Abroad - 926,000/4% All ratings are Barb 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".