Psychoville spooks almost 1.5m

The Psychoville Halloween Special attracted just under 1.5 million viewers on BBC2 and the BBC HD channel last night, Sunday 31 October. BBC2's one-off special of the comedy show from League of Gentlemen co-creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith attracted 1.451 million viewers and a 7.9% share to the channel from 10pm. A further 45,000 (0.2%) watched the BBC HD simulcast. Competition in the 10pm hour included ITV1/ITV1 HD documentary Paul McCartney and Wings: Band on the Run (1.915 million/12%) and Channel 4's Desperate Housewives (1.26 million/6.7%, C4 +1 134,000/1.4%). ITV1's The X Factor and Downton Abbey again dominated Sunday night viewing. The X Factor hit yet another ratings high as Belle Amie were eliminated, averaging 13.85 million (48.3%) across ITV1 and ITV1 HD from 8pm. Downton Abbey was steady week on week, with 8.821 million (32.9%) on ITV1 and ITV1 HD from 9pm. Competition in the 9pm slot came from the final episode of BBC1's David Tennant drama Single Father (4.142 million/15.3%, BBC HD 124,000/0.5%), BBC2's new series James May's Man Lab (1.997 million/7.4%), Channel 4's The Secret Millionaire (1.748 million/6.5%, C4 +1 331,000/1.8%) and Channel 5's movie repeat Dumb and Dumber (961,000/4.5%). 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: Strictly Come Dancing Results - 9.749 million/37.4%, BBC HD 370,000/1.4% BBC2 8pm: Return of the Rhino: a Last Chance to See Special - 1.546 million ITV1/ITV1 HD 7pm: The Cube - 5.443 million/21.8% Channel 4 7pm: The Genius of British Art - 420,000/1.7%, C4+1 67,000/0.2% Channel 5 7.10pm: Little Man (terrestrial film premiere) - 762,000/2.8% 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 9pm: 1.17 million/4.3% 10pm: The Only Way Is Essex - 670,000/3.2% 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: Thorne: Scaredycat - 399,000/1.5% 10pm: House - 366,000/2% 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".