The second series premiere of Scott & Bailey returned with more than 6.8 million viewers on ITV1, according to overnight data.
The crime drama took a decent 6.82m (25.1%) in the 9pm hour to help the channel secure primetime victory, though it was down from last year's strong premiere. A further 325k (1.9%) saw it on timeshift last night.
Empire aired in the same timeslot on BBC One but only managed 2.68m (10.7%). Earlier on ITV1, The Dales managed 3.95m (15.9%) from 8pm.
Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies had 2.55m (10.2%) with a further 512k (3%) on +1. It was followed by My Phone Sex Secrets, which took 1.47m (9%) from 10pm (+1: 311k/3.8%).
BBC Two showed University Challenge (2.56m/10.3%) and Home Cooking Made Easy (1.54m/6.2%) before The Tube drew 1.95m (7.8%).
On Channel 5, Ultimate Police Interceptors grabbed 1.04m (4.2%), followed by an airing of Revolver (921k/4.8%).
Overall, ITV1 dominated primetime with 24.8% ahead of BBC One's 16.7%. Channel 4 had 6.7% (+1: 1%), beating BBC Two's 6.4% and Channel 5's 3.8%.
On E4, the latest instalment of Skins averaged 346k (2.1%) from 10pm (+1: 99k/1.2%).
