Millions watch Forsyte return

Forty per cent of TV viewers - about 8.9million people - tuned into the first part of ITV's lavish remake of The Forsyte Saga, according to early viewing figures.

Last night's 90-minute slice of period drama drew ITV's second highest peak time audience share of the year. A new episode of A Touch Of Frost aired in January attracted 46 per cent of viewers.

Ioan Gruffud, Gina McKee and Damien Lewis star in The Forsyte Saga, the six-part Edwardian costume drama.

Critics had doubted Granada Television could create a series on a par with the BBC's celebrated pantheon of period productions including Pride And Prejudice. But today's figures show audiences disagree.

The definitive 1967 BBC TV version of Galsworthy's novels ran weekly for six months and drew audiences of up to 18 million every Sunday night.