Accidental Farmer harvests 4.5m viewers

ACCIDENTAL MAYBE? Accidental Farmer, BBC1, 9pm – The comedy drama pilot starring Ashley Jensen pulled in 4.575 million viewers, a 17.7% share between 9pm and 10pm. The better news was that it held on to most of its audience throughout the hour-long run. It also won its slot, with ITV1's docusoap The Savoy drawing 4.002 million viewers, a 15.5% share, between 9pm and 10pm, with another 86,000 viewers on ITV1 HD. FOOD V BOOZE Jamie's Best Ever Christmas, Channel 4, 9pm – The second part of Jamie Oliver's yuletide special picked up 2.106 million viewers, an 8.1% share, between 9pm and 10pm, with another 175,000 viewers on Channel 4 +1. It beat the first of BBC2's four-part Oz and Hugh Raise the Bar, with Oz Clarke and Hugh Dennis, which began with 1.998 million viewers, 8% of the audience. It drew another 4,000 viewers on BBC HD – a pity, because wine tastes so much better in high definition. VROOM! Top Gear, BBC2, 8pm – Jeremy Clarkson and Co had by some distance BBC2's most-watched programme of the night, and it wasn't even the Christmas special. The motoring show pulled in 5.354 million viewers, a 20.3% share, between 8pm and 9pm. That's not all – it drew another 386,000 viewers on BBC HD. Channel 4's Time Team repeat, The Secrets of Westminster Abbey, was predictably left on the starting blocks, with 1.536 million viewers, a 5.9% share. Channel 5's The Princess and the Press: How Kate's Life Will Change Forever, pulled in just 852,000 viewers, a 3.3% share, between 8pm and 9pm. Vince Cable and the Press: How Undercover Reporters Changed the Business Secretary's Remit For The Time Being At Least, has just gone into production. The Top Gear Christmas special, since you ask, is on Boxing Day. NURSE! THE OVERNIGHTS! Holby City, BBC1, 8pm – With just one week to go before the dual departure of Faye and Connie - we're going to miss them too - the hospital drama averaged 6.373 million viewers, a 24.3% share, one of its biggest audiences of the year. Holby City easily won its slot, with ITV1's Children's Hospital at Christmas averaging 2.62 million viewers, a 10.1% share, also between 8pm and 9pm, with another 89,000 viewers on ITV1 HD. 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".