World Cup break boosts C4 share

Gordon Ramsay's F Word averaged 4.3 million viewers

Channel 4 enjoyed its second biggest audience share of 2006 on the first day free of World Cup football for almost three weeks, overnight ratings show.

Its 14.7% share was second only to 18 May, when Big Brother launched.

It was the most-watched channel between 2100 and 2300 BST, with Gordon Ramsay's F Word getting 21.1% of the audience, followed by Big Brother with 27.6%.

A Channel 4 spokesman said "distinctive programmes" had grown the network's audience share during the year.

"We are thrilled with the continued success of Big Brother, and Gordon Ramsay's popularity remains as high as ever," he said.

On BBC One between 2100 and 2300 were three repeats - Judge John Deed, My Family Reloaded and Comedy Connections - as well as the news and lottery.

ITV1 screened a repeat of Rosemary & Thyme, as well as Emmerdale and its news.

Channel 4 enjoyed a 14.7% share for the day in homes with only terrestrial television, and 13% in multi-channel homes.

That compared with BBC One's 20.3% (terrestrial) and 17.2% (multi-channel), and 19% and 16.6% for ITV1.