The second season of Top Chef returned to Bravo with a bang after a three-week holiday hiatus, as the series' January 3 episode attracted 2.2 million viewers, making it the most watched episode of the series ever, according to Nielsen ratings figures.

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The Wednesday night broadcast, which was the ninth episode in the series' second season and saw Betty sent home after the elimination challenge, was also the top-rated program of the day among Adults 25-54 and Women 25-54 demographics.  Additionally, the episode delivered its largest Adults 18-49 audience to date.

The January 3 episode garnered 1.622 million viewers in the Adults 18-49 demographic and 1.643 million viewers in the Adults 25-54 demographic, as well as a 1.8 rating in households.  Ratings for Wednesday night's telecast also surged from Top Chef 2's previous all new episode on December 13 by 36% among total viewers, 45% among Adults 18-49 and 40% among Adults 25-54.

Season to date, Top Chef's second season has averaged a 1.50 rating in household, 1.697 million total viewers, 1.193 million viewers in the Adults 18-49 demographic and 1.169 million viewers in the Adults 25-54 demographic. Compared to the first nine episodes of season one of Top Chef, the ratings represent a 54% increase among total viewers, a 55% increase among in the Adults 18-49 demographic and 59% in the Adults 25-54 demographic.

Top Chef will continue airing all-new episodes for the rest of this month, leading up to the two-part season two finale on Wednesday, January 24 at 10PM ET/PT and Wednesday, January 31 at 10PM ET/PT.

Last week, Bravo announced that it has already ordered a third season for the culinary competition hit.


About The Author: Christopher Rocchio
Christopher Rocchio is an entertainment reporter for Reality TV World and has covered the reality TV genre for several years.