TV ratings: Lucas storyline helps EastEnders over 8m

EastEnders attracted more than 8 million viewers last night, Tuesday 27 July, as local preacher Lucas's carefully crafted cover-up began to unravel. The BBC1 soap claimed 39.5% of viewing at 7.30pm, according to unofficial overnight figures, and a large chunk of that audience share stayed with BBC1 through until 10pm, with 5.3 million people watching Holby City (25.5% of share) and 3.7 million tuning in for New Tricks (16.6%). ITV previewed Piers Morgan's big money move to America with an hour-long programme following the former Daily Mirror editor as he chatted to various stateside stars. More than 2 million viewers, 10.2% of the audience, watched the latest instalment in the ITV1 series. Day 48 in the Big Brother house was watched by 2.4 million viewers, 13.7% of the 10pm audience share – only the BBC1's news fared better with 3.8 million viewers, 18.9% of the share. 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 7.30pm: EastEnders – 8.1m/39.5% 8pm: Holby City – 5.3m/25.5% 9pm: New Tricks – 3.7m/16.6% BBC2 6pm: Live Athletics: European Championships – 1.7m/9.1% 9pm: That Mitchell and Webb look – 1.6m/7.4% 9.30pm: Shooting Stars – 1.5m/6.9% ITV1 7pm: Emmerdale – 6.3m/33% 7.30pm: Children's Hospital – 2.5m/12% 8pm: Piers Morgan on Hollywood – 2.1m/10.2% 9pm: The Bill – 2.8m/12.7% Channel 4 8pm: The Ugly Face of Beauty – 1.4m/6.8% 9pm: The Fairy Jobmother – 1.8m/8.3% 10pm: Big Brother – 2.4m/13.7% Channel Five 8pm: Ship Rescue: The Devon Disaster – 1.3m/6% 9pm: CSI: Miami – 2.1m/9.7% 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 BBC3 No figures available BBC4 No figures available ITV2 8pm: Peter Andre: the Next Chapter – 273,000/1.3% ITV3 7.55pm: Rosemary & Thyme – 505,000/2.4% E4 9pm: Smallville – 366,000/1.7% More4 9pm: Heston's Chocolate Factory Fest – 258,000/1.2% Cable and satellite pay-TV networks Sky1 7.30pm: The Simpsons – 383,000/1.9m