Clark drama brings record ratings

Hurt stars as the incorrigible Clark

The first part of BBC Four's drama about former Tory minister Alan Clark was watched by about 846,000 digital viewers in a record for the channel.

Unofficial overnight figures showed The Alan Clark Diaries was the second most watched programme on non-terrestrial channels in digital homes.

It was beaten only By The Simpsons on Sky One with 907,000 viewers.

The BBC said the series, starring John Hurt as Clark, had attracted the largest audience in BBC Four's history.

The previous highest figure was held by the drama State of Play, which averaged 560,000 viewers.

The six-part Clark series, based on the eccentric former politician's colourful diaries, beat rival programmes on BBC Two, Channel 4, Five and Sky One in multi-channel homes.

Outspoken attack

It has attracted criticism because of the BBC's decision to air it on one of its digital channels before it is shown on BBC Two in March.

Hurt also made an outspoken attack on what he called "ludicrous" BBC budget restraints when shooting the adaptation.

Featuring Jenny Agutter as his wife Jane, it chronicles Clark's parliamentary and personal life from his first spell in Mrs Thatcher's government in 1983 to his death in 1999.

BBC Four controller Roly Keating hailed the viewing figures as a "milestone" for the channel.

According to the unofficial figures, it was seen by about 100,000 fewer viewers than Sky One's latest flagship drama Nip/Tuck.

The US import, set in the world of plastic surgery patients, was seen by about 949,000 viewers during its UK debut on Tuesday night - a Sky One record for a new drama.