Viewing figures for the new BBC Scotland channel have been revealed.

According to reports, viewing figures this month have ranged from a high of 36000 on April 4 to just 8980 on the first day of the Clutha disaster inquiry on April 8, with BBC bosses defending the new channel despite claims of 'troubling viewership figures' 

The channel’s quiz show, WonderBall, recorded figures as low as 2760.

Former BBC producer and ­editor Tim ­Luckhurst told the Sunday Mail the figures were “deeply troubling”.

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“To be spending this money on this channel and these shows at a time when ­network television and radio is struggling for money is a grave injustice to licence-payers.

“There was never any evidence of audience demand for this new channel. It’s diverting scarce resources into a bottomless pit,” he said.

A BBC spokesman hit back at the hack-turned-boffin: “Across the first four weeks, the channel had a share of 3.5 per cent during its core transmission hours from 7pm to midnight.

“The channel has also reached more than one in four of all ­audiences in Scotland per week during its first month, ­putting it ahead of all other digital channels outwith the top five.

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“Output has been ­complemented by iPlayer ­exclusives too and we are very encouraged by the start the channel has made.

“Our long-term aim is to ­establish a channel that ­consistently delivers relevant and engaging content for our audiences. The feedback we’ve had so far has been very positive.”

This article appeared in our sister paper The National