TV3 is hammering RTé in the Monday-night ratings war. According to figures just released, Bill Cullen's vehicle The Apprentice pulled in 452,000 viewers last Monday night, while Pat Kenny's The Frontline attracted 389,000.

TV3 sources said its management was delighted at the success of the hit series, which last week saw 29-year-old Dubliner Lucinda Kelly fired from the show. The week before, The Apprentice drew 541,000 viewers, with 309,000 watching The Frontline.

TV3's Maureen Catterson said the show was winning the battle because Irish viewers were looking for more entertainment. "Everyone knows about the show by now, and colourful characters like Breffny and Aoiffe kept viewers glued to the screen. We have seen characters who Irish people love, and who the public love to hate.

"We are winning the ratings war because, right now, in the height of recession, there are more people at home who want comedy, reality and entertainment all in one. The Apprentice is the hands-down winner. The Frontline can be a bit too news-focused for some viewers in that way."

An RTE spokesman said: "Taking from 8:30 in the evening from the start of Catherine's Italian Kitchen then through the Nine O'Clock News to the Grand Slam documentary and then the Frontline, RTE outperformed TV3.

"But obviously beyond that RTE welcomes the fact that TV3 is engaging in home-produced programmes and obviously the audience is well served on Monday nights with the choice on TV3, RTE1 and RTE2."