Joey a ratings smash ... in the UK, that is!

[Brian Damage]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4263809.stm

Four million see Joey's UK debut

Matt LeBlanc's show has been a hit in the US
Friends spin-off Joey was a hit for Five on its UK TV debut, attracting just over four million viewers.
The double bill was seen by 4.1 million people, according to unofficial overnight figures, making it one of the highest-rated shows in Five's history.

It beat its competition on both BBC Two and Channel 4, although ITV1 drama The Royal comfortably beat it with eight million viewers.

In the US, Joey became the top-rated comedy after just three episodes.

But the ratings for its US debut - 18.6 million viewers - were lower than for any episode of Friends in its final season.

The series, starring Matt LeBlanc, follows Joey's life as an aspiring actor as he tries to make it big in Los Angeles.

It co-stars Drea de Matteo, who won an Emmy award for her role in The Sopranos, as Joey's hairstylist sister Gina.

Five won the rights to screen the series last year after Channel 4 - which showed Friends for its entire UK run - pulled out of the bidding.

Sunday night's leading show in the UK was ITV1's Coronation Street, which was seen by 11 million people.