TV ratings: Whitechapel's return pulls in 5.6m

ITV1 crime drama Whitechapel returned for a second series last night with 5.6 million viewers, far fewer than watched the debut episode of the first series – but still enough to beat BBC1's Spooks. Whitechapel, starring Rupert Penry-Jones and Phil Davis, averaged 5.627 million viewers, a 22.8% share of the audience between 9pm and 10pm, of whom 202,000 were watching on ITV HD. It beat the fourth episode of the new run of Spooks, which was broadcast at the same time on BBC1 and drew 5.217 million viewers, a 21.1% share. Last night's Whitechapel audience was down from the 8.1 million viewers (30% share) who watched the first ever episode of the show in February last year . BBC1 soap EastEnders was watched by an average of 9.8 million at 8pm, a 38.4% share, as viewers tuned in to watch the show's moving portrayal of the death of Billie Jackson. Also at 9pm on BBC2, Horizon: What Happened before the Big Bang? averaged 1.575 million, a 6.4% share, with another 71,000 viewers on BBC HD. The third episode of Channel 5's Titanic: the Mission, picked up 958,000 viewers, a 3.9% share, with another 152,000 on Channel 4 +1. It was beaten in the ratings by Channel 5's Rory and Paddy's Even Greater British Adventure, which averaged 1.329 million, a 5.4% share, also between 9pm and 10pm. 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 8pm: EastEnders – 9.656 million/38.4% BBC2 8.30pm: Masterchef – the Professionals – 2.922 million/11,7%, BBC HD - 47,000 ITV1/ITV1 HD 8pm: Wild Britain with Ray Mears (new series) – 3.745 million/14.9% Channel 4 5.30pm: Jamie's 30-Minute Meals – 1.472 million/10.5%, C4+1 – 224,000/1.1% Channel 5 8pm: The Gadget Show – 1.104 million/4.4% 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: Hell's Kitchen USA (new) - 468,000/1.9% E4 10pm: The Inbetweeners – 2.428 million/11.8% BBC3 10.30pm: Him and Her – 567,000/3.6% BBC4 9pm: A History of Horror with Mark Gatiss – 501,000/2% 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".