Q&A’s best audience of the year tunes in to Jordan Peterson

The latest episode of ABC’s Q&A, featuring Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson, has attracted its biggest audience of the year.

Jordan Peterson and Labor MP Terri Butler on Q&A.

Monday’s episode of ABC’s Q&A, featuring controversial Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson and transgender broadcaster and author Catherine McGregor, attracted its biggest audience so far this year.

The episode, titled ‘‘Jordan Peterson Destroys Q&A’’, was watched by 429,000 people across the five metropolitan cities. A total of 624,000 people across the country watched the program.

The fourth episode of 2019 ­attracted 86,000 more people across the nation than last week’s program on drugs.

The traditionally hour-long talkfest, hosted by Tony Jones, stretched to almost 90 minutes and was the 20th most-watched show on Monday night.

It was fairly tame as panellists, including McGregor, writer Van Badham, Special Minister of State Alex Hawke and shadow minister for employment services Terri Butler, covered topics including toxic masculinity, identity politics, transgenderism and free speech.

An ABC spokeswoman declined to comment on the latest Q&A or any feedback it received from the public.

The numbers were healthy, but a far cry from last year’s special edition with dumped prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The February 11 Q&A about Manus Island, refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi and franking credits attracted 365,000 viewers.