UK Edition
Victoria beats Are You Being Served in Sunday night ratings battle with 6m viewers
Victoria beat the BBC's remake of Are You Being Served? when the lavish ITV drama went head to head with the return of the comedy favourite on Sunday night.
Former Doctor Who star Jenna Coleman made her debut as the young monarch in the period drama, in an opening feature-length episode which saw her inherit the throne at the age of 18.
Victoria, which also stars Rufus Sewell as prime minister Lord Melbourne and will later feature Tom Hughes as Prince Albert, attracted 5.7 million viewers and 6.1 million at its peak.
It claimed a 30 per cent share of the audience.
Are You Being Served?, which left viewers and critics disgruntled and also started at 9pm on BBC One, claimed five million viewers, a peak of 5.2 million and a 24 per cent share of the audience.
Porridge, another remake, which began at 9.30pm, was watched by 4.4 million and a peak of 4.6 million.
Derren Litten, Bendiorm's creator who penned the new Are You Being Served?, wrote on Twitter: "Overnight viewing figures are in. ITV's Victoria was always the one to beat but she only just nicked it!"
The second episode of Victoria is being screened on Monday night.
Next weekend, the big-budget drama will go head to head with the BBC's hugely popular Poldark in the 9pm slot.
Last year Poldark, starring Aidan Turner, launched with nearly seven million viewers.
The creator of Victoria, Daisy Goodwin, has said she would be flattered if the show can enjoy the same success as Downton Abbey, which came to an end at Christmas.
"It's very big shoes to fill, but I love Sunday night telly, so if people enjoy watching this as much as they did Downton, then I will feel our work is done."