MasterChef returns with almost 5m viewers

MasterChef returned to BBC1 in its new back to basics format with almost 5 million viewers on Tuesday night, ahead of a strong debut for new Channel 4 documentary series 15 Kids and Counting. The BBC1 cookery show , which came in for criticism for changing its recipe last year , averaged 4.8 million viewers, a 19.7% share, between 9pm and 10pm on Tuesday. 15 Kids and Counting , about a family who are expecting their 15th child, had 2.9 million viewers, a 12% share, at the same time on Channel 4, rising to 3.2 million with Channel 4+1. The Channel 4 show eclipsed the second of BBC2's Stargazing Live, which slipped back to 2.8 million, an 11.4% share, including 355,000 on the BBC HD channel. It began with a total of 3.8 million on Monday . It also beat ITV1's weight loss show The Biggest Loser – rarely has a show been more appropriately named – which could only manage 2.2 million viewers, an 8.9% share, rising to 2.3 million with the extra portion of ITV1+1. The Biggest Loser beat Channel 5's new US drama Body of Proof, which had 1.5 million viewers (6.1%), rising to 1.6 million including Channel 5+1. Also at 9pm, BBC4's three-part The Story of Musicals ended on the right note with 1.08 million viewers, 4.5% of the audience. All ratings are Barb overnight figures, including live and same day timeshifted (recorded) viewing, but excluding on demand, +1 or other – unless otherwise stated. Figures for BBC1, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 generally include ratings for their HD simulcast services, 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". • To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook .