TV ratings: British Law & Order debut arrests 6m viewers

ITV1's British version of the US drama franchise Law & Order launched successfully last night, Monday 23 February, winning its slot with more than 6 million viewers.

The final of University Challenge, which saw Gail Trimble and her Corpus Christi team crowned champions, also pulled in more than 5 million viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures.

Law & Order: UK, which has a large ensemble cast including Bradley Walsh, Jamie Bamber, Freema Agyeman, Ben Daniels and Harriet Walter, drew 6.4 million viewers and a 26% share in the 9pm hour.

BBC1's Who Do You Think You Are? pulled in 5.7 million viewers and a 23% share in the 9pm hour, while the third series of BBC2's US drama Heroes resumed after a break with 2.4 million and 10% between 9pm and 9.45pm.

Channel 4's The Real Casino Royale picked up 1 million viewers and a 4% share in the 9pm hour, with a further 100,000 on Channel 4 +1 an hour later.

Channel Five's movie repeat The 6th Day drew 900,000 viewers and a 5% share between 9pm and 11.25pm.

University Challenge, which saw Oxford college Corpus Christi beat Manchester by 275 points to 190, drew 5.3 million viewers and a 21% share on BBC2 between 8pm and 8.30pm.

The BBC said last night's ratings were the highest for University Challenge since 2002 and 2 million up on last year's final. The quiz came second in its slot, beating ITV1's The Feelgood Factor, with 3 million viewers and a 12% share in the same slot.

BBC1's EastEnders came out on top in the 8pm slot with 9.4 million viewers and a 37% share over half an hour. Channel 4's Dispatches, looking at the public roles adopted by Princes William and Harry, drew 1.1 million viewers and a 5% share over an hour, with a further 164,000 on Channel 4 +1.

Five's motoring show Fifth Gear picked up 800,000 viewers and a 3% share over an hour from 8pm.

BBC2's MasterChef continued to go great guns at the start of its final week, with 4.5 million viewers and an 18% share between 8.30pm and 9pm. BBC1's Panorama had 2.7 million and 11% in the same slot.

ITV1's Coronation Street won the 8.30pm to 9pm slot with 9.3 million viewers and a 36% share.

Sky1's Oscars highlights drew 357,000 viewers and a 2.7% multichannel share between 10pm and 11.30pm, while 24 had 494,000 and 2.3% on the same channel in the 9pm hour.

BBC3's new episode of Heroes claimed 782,000 viewers and a 6.4% share between 10.30pm and 11.15pm. BBC4's Storyville documentary Maradona – In the Hands of the Gods picked up 69,000 viewers and a 0.5% multichannel share between 10pm and 11.30pm.

Five USA's cop show import The Shield attracted 98,000 viewers and a 0.7% multichannel share in the 10pm hour.

• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediatheguardian.com 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".