So Dexter did well in the ratings. As did Dirt. As didn’t The New Adventures of Old Christine. Broadcast Now reports that ‘Dirt’ made the strongest debut with 615,000 viewers (3.4%) for Five US, earning the channel it’s highest ever audience. It was the most watched multi-channel programme, an especially impressive feat considering the station’s slot average for the year so far is 146,000 (0.77%).

‘Dexter’ also brought in the numbers for FX with almost 300,000 viewers, similarly the channel’s biggest UK audience to date. It had been widely advertised, with star Michael C. Hall smiling at me from a huge poster at a tube platform just yesterday.

‘The New Adventures of Old Christine’ was the loser with only 150,000 (0.8%), a number that dropped to 127,000 for the second episode. Interesting considering that the slot average for UKTV Gold is 167,000 (0.88%), though perhaps a US sitcom on a channel dedicated to repeats of The Bill and Jim’ll Fix It wasn’t a natural fit. Again, I point an accusatory figure at TV schedulers for making two new US imports clash and divide audiences, but this was only one night. Will ‘Dirt’ and ‘Dexter’ continue to ride this wave of popularity?