It will be remembered for the moment Adele's acceptance speech was cut short, but ITV executives may prefer to think about the ratings for the Brit awards on Tuesday night, which topped 6 million viewers.

The Brits was watched by an average of 6.2 million viewers, a 25.3% share, between 8pm and 10pm on ITV1. If only it had gone on until 10.15pm then we might have heard a bit more from Adele, who made a premature exit to make way for outstanding contribution winners, Blur.

ITV1's Brits audience, which had a five-minute peak of 7.4 million, was a third up on last year's 4.6 million, its lowest since 2006.

The Brits had the better of BBC1's Holby City, which attracted 4.5 million viewers (18.7%) between 8pm and 9pm, and Prisoners' Wives, with 3.9 million viewers (14.7%) between 9pm and 10pm.

The Brits' audience was the programme's biggest since 2005, when it drew an average of 6.3 million viewers, a 27.7% share.

Last year the Brits lost out to Channel 4's Big Fat Gypsy Weddings. This year the tables were turned, with the Channel 4 documentary series watched by 4.4 million viewers, 17.6% of the audience.

The programme, which has attracted controversy with its "Bigger. Fatter. Gypsier" advertising campaign, was substantially down on the 5.7 million who watched last week's second series opener.

BBC1's Prisoners' Wives got squeezed between the Brits and Big Fat Gypsy Weddings in the 9pm slot, sinking to 3.7 million and 14.7%, compared with 4.2 million and 17.3% last Tuesday.

Channel 5's 9pm show, US drama import Body of Proof, averaged 1.5 million (5.9%) – almost identical figures to the previous week.

ITV2's Brits Backstage, in which presenter James Corden told viewers just how sorry he was for having to cut off Adele in her prime, had another 652,000 viewers, a 3.6% share, between 10pm and 11pm.

Earlier, The Brits Red Carpet, also on ITV2 – never let it be said it doesn't make the most of a big event – was watched by 532,000 viewers (2.4%) between 7pm and 8pm.

Made in Chelsea. Lost in Napoli

Sky Sports 2's coverage of Chelsea's 3-1 Uefa Champions' League defeat by Napoli was watched by 989,000 viewers, a 4.2% share, between 7pm and 10.15pm. It had a five-minute peak of 1.6 million.

Spall at Sea

Elsewhere last night, BBC4's Timothy Spall: All at Sea, in which the actor began the final part of his journey around Britain by barge, began with 474,000 viewers, a 1.9% share, between 8.30pm and 9pm. This was 26.9% down on the slot average over the last three months.

All ratings are Barb overnight figures, including live, +1 (except for BBC and some other channels including Sky1) and same day timeshifted (recorded) viewing, but excluding on demand, or other – unless otherwise stated. Figures for BBC1, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 generally include ratings for their HD simulcast services, unless otherwise stated

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