TV Overnights: The X Factor triumphs once again

The X Factor managed to triumph over its BBC One rival once again this weekend, peaking with a high of more than 11.8 million viewers.

The first of the two programmes this weekend, which saw the successful contestants from the past five weeks of auditions enter bootcamp, pulled in an impressive 9.6 million peak viewers and a 36% audience share on Saturday – stealing the ratings from BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing.

On Sunday, the second X Factor bootcamp special, which saw judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue choose the final 24 to move on to the next stage, attracted a high of more than 11.8 million viewers and a 42.4% average audience share between 7.30pm and 9pm.

However, BBC One’s Strictly didn’t do too badly.  The first of the two-night special on Friday picked up over 8 million peak viewers and a respectable 33.9% audience share, while Saturday’s show pulled in 8.4 million peak viewers and a 33.2% share.

Aside from the two talent shows – which by and large dominated the weekend’s ratings – Friday night’s soap line-up saw BBC One’s Eastenders claim the top spot over its ITV1 rival Coronation Street with a high of 8.1 million viewers.

BBC One also secured the peak audience for most of Saturday, with the exception of The X Factor.  Coverage of The Singapore Grand Prix started off the channels peak run with 2.1 million viewers, followed by Final Score, Hole in the Wall, Merlin and the start of Strictly.

Casualty, BBC News and Match of Day also banked the highest ratings (after The X Factor finished) during Saturday evening’s prime time slot.

However, on Sunday ITV1 enjoyed the top spot with a peak run of All Star Family Fortunes, The X Factor part two and Doc Martin, which attracted over 7.7 million viewers and a 28.3% average audience share during the all-important 9pm to 10pm slot.

Overnight data is available each morning in mediatel.co.uk’s TV Database, with all BARB registered subscribers able to view reports for terrestrial networks and key multi-channel stations.