Despite fierce competition from other digital channels, E4 continues to attract the highest share of the key demographics of 16-34s. Audience share across this category was 5.45%, and for all individuals was 2.01%, both record highs for this time of the year.

Channel 4 said that driving this growth was new E4 programming which was the motor for 12% year-on-year growth in prime time viewing. New episodes of Tattoo Fixers are currently averaging 1.3 million viewers an episode, up 500,000 on last series and accounting for 8% of E4’s total viewing. New sci-fi drama series The Aliens is currently consolidating at 965,000 after launching with 540,000, while Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D has averaged a 4.1% share, more than double the slot average.

Weekend daytime viewing of E4 has also increased this year with hit US sitcoms The Big Bang Theory and The Goldbergs helping to drive 17% growth in audience share compared with the same period in 2015.

"E4 has had a fantastically confident start to 2016 with home grown hits from Tattoo Fixers to The Aliens,” said Jay Hunt, Channel 4’s chief creative officer. “It’s fantastic to see young audiences still choosing it as their No 1 digital channel.”