Feelgood comedy Glee pulls in 1m viewers

It has been one of the most talked about TV series for years and last night Glee pulled in the highest audience for digital channel E4 for four years.

More than 1.3 million viewers, triple the number the channel usually attracts on a Monday night, tuned in to watch the US musical comedy, which stars Lea Michele, Jayma Mays, Jane Lynch and Matthew Morrison.

The show focuses on the dancing choir at William McKinley High School with the theme of geeks triumphing over the "jocks". Its shocking jokes caused a stir in the US.

It first aired on television there last year and has been commissioned for a second series. Producers at Fox last night announced an X Factor-style hunt in America to find three new cast members for the next series.

Fox president Kevin Reilly said: "We couldn't be more proud of what [writer] Ryan Murphy and the Glee team have created so far, and can't wait to see what they come up with for season two."

Olivia Newton-John will have a recurring guest role.