Britain’s Got Talent achieved its highest ratings of the series so far on Saturday night, ITV has said.
The episode drew an average of 7.9 million viewers, giving the channel a 40.4% share of the audience.
It peaked with 8.8 million people tuning in to watch a new batch of hopefuls vie to impress the judges.
The episode was up week by week from 7.1 million viewers and year on year from seven million viewers.
The fourth instalment saw 10-year old Malta schoolgirl Giorgia Borg land a place in live shows after Alesha Dixon hit the golden buzzer during her audition.
She dazzled the judges with her rendition of 10, an original song she penned, explaining it is about “how some adults don’t listen to their kids”.
Another act to wow the judges during the latest episode was Pc Dave Wardell and his retired police dog, who was stabbed saving his life.
Judge Simon Cowell was brought to tears as he heard how the service animal was stabbed with a 10-inch blade after he jumped between Mr Wardell and an offender wielding a knife.
The duo landed four yes votes as they appeared on the talent show to perform an act in which Finn relays words chosen by the judges to his handler.
Britain’s Got Talent continues on ITV.