TV ratings: 1.2m join Bellamy's People

Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson's new comedy, Bellamy's People, launched on BBC2 with just over 1 million viewers on Thursday 21 January. The show, a TV version of Whitehouse and Higson's spoof phone-in Down the Line for Radio 4, features Rhys Thomas as radio presenter Gary Bellamy in a send up of celebrity travelogue programmes. Bellamy's People began with 1.2 million viewers and a 6% share in the half hour from 10pm on BBC2, according to unofficial overnights. The slot was won, as usual, by BBC1's 10pm news, with 4.9 million viewers and a 23% share. ITV1's News at Ten had 2.6 million viewers and a 12% share. Celebrity Big Brother attracted 2.7 million viewers and a 15% share over 70 minutes from 10pm. A further 235,000 watched an hour later on Channel 4 +1. Channel Five's terrestrial movie premiere, Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, was watched by 1 million viewers – a 7% share – between 10pm and 12.05am. BBC2's Thursday comedy line-up began at 9pm, with the eighth series of Mock the Week attracting 2.6 million viewers and a 10% share. Scottish sitcom Rab C Nesbitt returned after an absence of 11 years for its ninth series with 2 million viewers and an 8% share on BBC2 in the half hour from 9.30pm. Silent Witness came out on top in the 9pm hour, attracting 6.1 million viewers and a 25% share to BBC1. The Bill on ITV1 had 3.9 million viewers and a 16% share in the same slot; while on Five the third series of Extreme Fishing with Robson Green opened with 1.3 million and 5%. Channel 4's Dispatches documentary The Slumdog Children of Mumbai had 1.9 million viewers and an 8% share. Another 216,000 watched an hour later on Channel 4 +1. BBC1 comedy drama Material Girl continued to struggle against ITV1's soaps in the 8pm hour, attracting 2.8 million viewers and a 12% share for its second episode. Emmerdale had 8.6 million viewers and a 36% share in the half hour from 8pm, followed by Coronation Street, with 9.5 million and 38%. Channel 4's new Monty Don series My Dream Farm attracted 1.9 million viewers and an 8% share in the 8pm hour. A further 164,000 watched an hour later on Channel 4 +1. Five's Build a New Life in the Country drew 1 million viewers and a 4% share, while on BBC2 in the 8pm hour Jimmy's Global Harvest attracted 1.8 million. • 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".