ITV's Midsomer Murders makes a killing with more than 6m viewers

Midsomer Murders returned to ITV1 with more than 6 million viewers in the first series since the exit of its co-creator Brian True-May . True-May prompted a storm last year when he suggested there was no place in Midsomer for ethnic minorities, describing the drama as the "last bastion of Englishness". Wednesday's episode – the first of its 15th series – was notable for featuring a Hong Kong-born actor, Natalie Mendoza , among the suspects. It was watched by 6.13 million viewers across ITV1 and ITV1+1, a 25% share of the audience. Midsomer Murders, which now stars Neil Dudgeon in the lead role, beat BBC1's DIY: SOS, which had 4.4 million viewers (18.4%) between 8pm and 9pm, and MasterChef, watched by 4.5 million people (18.2%) between 9pm and 10pm. Overnight(s) stay Channel 4's One Born Every Minute continued to pull in big audiences on Channel 4. The fifth of the 14-part third series of the maternity ward show had a total audience of 3.7 million viewers, a 14.9% share, between 9pm and 10pm. It gave a healthy lead-in to Channel 4 docusoap Bouncers, which was watched by 2.7 million viewers, a 15.5% share between 10pm and 11.05pm. One Born Every Minute put the final part of BBC2 documentary series The Crusades to the sword, with 1.6 million viewers (6.4%) including 30,000 on BBC HD. Channel 5's Exit Wounds – a Steven Seagal movie? On Channel 5? – had 900,000 viewers, a 4.4% share between 9pm and 11pm. TOWIE Cavey! The second episode of the fourth series of ITV2's The Only Way Is Essex lured 951,000 viewers (4.9%) between 10pm and 10.45pm. It was down from the 1.16 million season opener on Sunday. All ratings are Barb overnight figures, including live, +1 (except for BBC and some other channels including Sky1) and same day timeshifted (recorded) viewing, but excluding on demand, 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 .