Largest television audience for a reality programme

The largest audience for any reality TV show is for the final episode of CBS' Survivor programme in the USA. Approximately 51 million people, or 41% of America's viewing public, watched Richard Hatch (USA) win the $1 million (£660,000) prize money on 24 August 2000. This was the last episode of America's first series of Survivor, a game which is set in exotic locations. The 16 participants who begin the series are separated into 2 tribes which compete with each other in challenges. In each episode the losing tribe attends a Tribal Council to vote off a Survivor. When 10 survivors remain, the tribes are merged. The voting is a constant mental conflict for the participants, between voting off the weakest member (so as to win the challenges)and voting off the strongest, who could win the millionaire title.