TV ratings - 17 April: Britain's Got Talent launch draws 10.6m

ITV1 show Britain\'s Got Talent up 300,000 viewers on last year\'s launch episode, with peak of more than 12 million viewers

Britain\'s Got Talent returned to ITV1 for its fourth series with its best ever launch audience of just over 10.6 million viewers on Saturday, 17 April.

The ITV1 talent show pulled in 10.628 million viewers, a 44% audience share, over 90 minutes from 8pm.

ITV1\'s audience hit a five-minute peak of 12.2 million (49%) during that period and Britain\'s Got Talent also took a 51% share of viewing among 16- to 34-year-olds.

Britain\'s Got Talent was 300,000 viewers up on last year\'s launch episode, on Easter Saturday, but one share point down.

In 2008 the show launched with 8.8 million (37%), while in 2007 the first episode had 4.9 million (23%).

However, the hit ITV1 show will face a tougher challenge this Saturday matching the Susan Boyle-inspired ratings growth of the 2009 series.

Last year, after a week in which the YouTube video of Boyle\'s audition became a global viral phenomenon and the Scottish contestant had done the rounds of US network TV breakfast shows, the second Saturday edition of Britain\'s Got Talent was boosted to 11.9 million viewers and a 51% share .

On Saturday Britain\'s Got More Talent boosted ITV2\'s ratings, with the spin-off show attracting 1.302 million viewers (5.8%) in the hour from 9.30pm.

This was the second most popular multichannel show on Saturday, behind Sky Sports 1\'s live coverage of Manchester United\'s last gasp 1-0 Premier League win over Manchester City.

Live coverage of the match had 1.776 million (22%) over two hours from 12.45pm. Full coverage, including pre and most match comment and analysis, brought an average of 1.396 million (18.2%) to Sky Sports 1 between midday and 3pm.

ITV1\'s third new Saturday night programme, gameshow The Whole 19 Yards, launched with 4.33 million (21.7%) in the 7pm hour.

The Vernon Kay and Caroline Flack-fronted ITV1 show lost out to the tail end of Doctor Who (6.227 million/32.7%), which held its audience and share steady compared to last Saturday on BBC1, in a slightly later 6.30pm-7.15pm slot.

Then The Whole 19 Yards held its own against the first 45 minutes of BBC1\'s Over the Rainbow.

Over the Rainbow (4.463 million/21.1%, BBC HD: 96,000/0.46%), The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins (4.049 million/16.6%) and Casualty (5.261 million/22.1%) all took a ratings hit against Britain\'s Got Talent.

Last Saturday\'s figures: Over the Rainbow (5.363 million/25.4%, BBC HD: 137,000/0.65%), National Lottery (5.943 million/25.8%), Casualty (5.702 million/24.2%).