The Only Way Is Essex grabbed nearly 810k with the second episode of the new series, according to overnight data.
The ITV2 reality show averaged 809k (4.2%) from 10pm, slightly down from its premiere when it attracted more than a million viewers.
The Only Way Is Essex drew a further 142k (1.4%) on timeshift.
On the terrestrials, a two-hour instalment of Midsomer Murders took 5.88m (24%) for ITV1 from 8pm (+1: 370k/1.7%).
Opposite the crime drama, BBC One's DIY SOS: The Big Build and MasterChef had 4.43m (18.4%) and 4.53m (18.2%) respectively.
Elsewhere, BBC Two aired Natural World (1.89m/7.8%) and The Crusades (1.51m/6.1%).
9pm's One Born Every Minute performed well for Channel 4 with 3.21m (12.9%) and an impressive 503k (2.8%) on timeshift. How to Cook Like Heston was shown earlier, appealing to 1.4m (5.9%) from 8pm (+1: 143k/0.6%), with The Fabulous Baker Brothers taking 1.37m (5.6%) from 8.30pm (+1: 134k/0.5%).
Channel 5's Benidorm ER had 1.08m (4.5%) from 8pm, with an airing of Exit Wounds averaging 893k (4.1%) from 9pm. Cowboy Builders earlier grabbed 532k (2.4%).
Overall, ITV1 won primetime with 21.3% (+1: 1.1%) against BBC One's 19.7%. Channel 4 finished third with 8.8% (+1: 1.1%), ahead of BBC Two's 6.8% and Channel 5's 3.7%.
