One million extra tune in to see Deayton humiliated

More than a million extra TV viewers tuned in to watch Have I got News for You host Angus Deayton be ritually humiliated over his alleged indiscretions with a prostitute, the BBC said today.

A total of 7.5 million people were glued to their screens last night for the satirical news show, which has an average viewing figure of 6.1 million, said the BBC.

The BBC1 programme trounced the first episode of Channel 4’s new Big Brother show, which attracted 5.8 million viewers, after they were broadcast head-to-head at 9pm last night.

Quiz show panellists Ian Hislop and Paul Merton mercilessly teased Deayton, 45, over the disclosures about his private life.

Both whipped out copies of the News of the World, which reported that Deayton had had sex with a prostitute and on one occasion took cocaine in a hotel.

A BBC spokeswoman admitted that it was ‘‘possible’’ that the spectacle of the presenter being grilled about the episode could have explained the ratings rocketing from six million last week.

She added: ‘‘But it is a popular programme. It does normally do well. We’re pleased it’s up on its average figures.’