Zhivago's opening episode was watched by 6.5 million people on Sunday night, compared with 5.8 million who tuned in to Deronda the previous evening.

The two series went out on separate nights after the BBC agreed not to run its George Eliot adaptation head-to-head with the ITV show on Sunday evening - the traditional slot for period dramas.

Dr Zhivago: Scheduled against Great Britons and Big Brother

ITV said it was delighted with the figures for Dr Zhivago, which - like Deronda - was adapted for TV by Andrew Davies.

"It's absolutely wonderful - a very strong start," said a spokeswoman.

The BBC, too, said it was "incredibly pleased" with the success of Deronda, which had become its most watched costume drama since The Scarlet Pimpernel two years ago.

"For at least the last eight years we've not had a period drama play on a Saturday night, and it's been a great success," said a BBC spokesman.

Deronda received a quarter of the audience share on Saturday, while a bigger audience of 8.4 million tuned in to ITV1's Popstars: The Rivals' results show to discover which contestants had been voted into the show's boy band.

During the course of the series we've had 1.6 million people voting - the highest number of votes ever for a factual series

BBC spokeswoman

Meanwhile, 3.3 million watched Winston Churchill win the title of Greatest Briton in the final of the BBC Two history series on Sunday night.

Success

It received fewer viewers than Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother as 4.2 million watched Goldie become the first personality to be evicted from the house.

However, a BBC spokeswoman hailed Great Britons a big success.

"At its peak it was getting 4.6 million viewers, and during the course of the series we've had 1.6 million people voting - the highest number of votes ever for a factual series."

The continuing popularity of history shows on TV has led to BBC Two controller Jane Root commissioning a further series next year.

Restoration will highlight important buildings around the UK which have fallen into disrepair.

As part of the programme, viewers will be able to join campaigns to renovate the buildings to their former glories.