Downton Abbey pulled in the largest audience for an opening episode of the period drama in the UK on Sunday night.
A peak of 10.5 million watched the launch of the fourth series on UK network ITV, up on the 9.6 million who tuned in for the opening episode of the Julian Fellowes' drama last year.
The episode, featuring Michelle Dockery as grieving widow Lady Mary, was watched by an average of 9.5 million, compared to nine million in 2012.
ITV said the launch of the fourth series was the highest rating drama of 2013 so far, across all broadcasters.
Downton's TV success came as its stars Hugh Bonneville, Dame Maggie Smith and Dockery lost out on the big gongs at the 65th annual Emmy awards in Los Angeles.
