Paris flops for the Beeb

BBC1 slumped to its lowest peaktime viewing figures last week thanks to its extensive coverage of the athletics World Championships, it was revealed yesterday.

The Corporation's decision to devote hours to the Paris event backfired as viewers switched off.

An average of just 23 per cent of peak-time viewers tuned in. Rival ITV1 had a 30 per cent share.

The BBC said Britain's measly medal haul - two silver medals and two bronze - and a lack of star athletes was to blame.

'The figures are disappointing but the truth is that British audiences like to see British athletes winning,' said a spokeswoman. 'The medal haul was not great and the performance of homegrown athletes does have an effect on ratings.

'There were also fewer household names, with people like Paula Radcliffe-not competing.' She added: 'We don't want to sound like we're blaming the athletes but that is the truth of the situation.'

The two-and-a-half hour broadcast last Wednesday attracted the lowest share - 3.4million viewers, or 17 per cent of the peak-time audience. The athletics achieved its highest ratings when 5.4million watched triple jump world record holder Jonathan Edwards bow out.