ITV outmuscled by Bodyguard in ratings fight

THE BBC’s raunchy political thriller Bodyguard won the Sunday night TV ratings battle against its ITV rival, a glamorous costume drama.

More than 6.7million tuned in to the third episode of Bodyguard, starring Keeley Hawes as the Home Secretary involved in a passionate fling with her minder, played by Richard Madden.

Just 2.5million watched the first episode of ITV’s Vanity Fair, an adaptation of William Thackeray’s 19th century novel about social climber Becky Sharp, played by Olivia Cooke.

Vanity Fair failed to benefit from being broadcast after The X Factor, which was the most-watched show in its 8pm slot.

However the second instalment of Simon Cowell’s talent show saw its ratings slump, attracting .6million viewers – 800,000 fewer than Saturday night’s launch. The second episode of Vanity Fair was aired last night.

Bodyguard has the highest ratings for a BBC drama so far this year, beating McMafia by one million.