Zinc Media upbeat on viewing figures for The Inner Circle

(Sharecast News) - Zinc Media Group said in an update on Thursday that its new BBC One quiz format The Inner Circle, hosted by Amanda Holden, delivered strong audience figures, becoming the most watched programme in its time slot on Saturday 25 October. The AIM-traded firm said the fourth episode of The Celebrity Inner Circle achieved a 28% market share of all television viewers during its broadcast, peaking at over three million live viewers.

It said it expected the figure to rise further with catch-up and on-demand viewing over the coming weeks.

By comparison, Zinc noted that ITV's Tipping Point: Lucky Stars drew a peak audience of 1.3 million in the same slot.

The show ranked as the third most-watched family programme on BBC One that night, behind Strictly Come Dancing and Michael McIntyre's The Wheel.

It said the weekday version of The Inner Circle, which airs at 1630, also performed well, attracting average audiences of around one million viewers per episode - in line with established shows that previously occupied the slot.

The show was created by Zinc Media's Scottish-based production label Tern TV following a competitive multi-year tender process that initially involved more than 100 production companies.

Zinc said the format features contestants competing through question rounds before deciding whether to split or "shaft" the prize fund in a final twist.

At 0904 GMT, shares in Zinc Media Group were up 0.75% at 49.37p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.