Match Of The Day was watched by nearly half a million more people last night - despite there being no presenters amid the ongoing Gary Lineker dispute.
Viewing figures were up to 2.58million from last Saturday's figure of 2.09million, according to BARB overnights.
It is the BBC programme's largest audience since November 5 2022, which 2.63million people watched Match Of The Day.
The latest figures come after Ian Wright and Alan Shearer were among many pundits who pulled out of appearing on the show in support of Lineker.
Following the boycott, the BBC admitted defeat and aired the episode without any commentary and with simple Premier League highlights. It was also cut down to only 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, Football Focus and Final Score were axed on Saturday after host Alex Scott and a raft of other pundits refused to work.
The BBC announced on Friday evening that it had pulled Lineker off air from Saturday's Match Of The Day after he appeared to draw comparisons between the government's new Illegal Migration Bill and Nazi Germany in a tweet.
If you can’t see the poll, click here
Lineker, 62, described the controversial bill - unveiled by home secretary Suella Braverman on Tuesday to a wave of backlash - as "beyond awful", later adding: "This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s."
Speaking on Channel 5 about his suspension, Lineker said: "They've told me I have to step back."
Following the news on Friday evening that there would be no presenters for Match Of The Day on Saturday, a number of viewers shared their shock, with Piers Morgan tweeting two crying laughing emojis and wrote: "WHAT? The BBC has lost its mind. The whole production crew should walk out now."
A BBC spokesperson had said: “Some of our pundits have said that they don’t wish to appear on the programme while we seek to resolve the situation with Gary.
“We understand their position and we have decided that the programme will focus on match action without studio presentation or punditry.”
The Mirror has launched a petition to have Gary Lineker reinstated at the BBC and as the host of Match of the Day. Sign it here.
