Entertainment: TV viewers tune into new format

The observational documentary looks set to take over from traditional studio quiz and chat shows as the new light entertainment format following the success of Airport, BBC1's fly-on-the-wall documentary about Heathrow.

Airport - which attracted a consistent audience of between 9 and 10 million viewers, according to the latest BARB audience figures - beat ITV's Ain't Misbehavin, starring Robson Green and Jerome Flynn, and Undercover Customs which ran against it. It was only stopped from topping the BBC's ratings by EastEnders' 14 million viewers. The success of the fly-on-the-wall programme's second series follows big audiences for Driving School, the BBC's painfully funny documentary series about people having driving lessons. The efforts of one pupil Maureen Rees (right) made her into a national celebrity.