TV Overnights: The X Factor peaks with 11.3m viewers

ITV1’s The X Factor was the highest-rating programme of the weekend, attracting more than 11.3 million peak viewers.

The second of this weekend’s shows, which saw the hopefuls go through boot camp, secured its peak audience in the final fifteen minutes before the start of Downton Abbey – but secured 9.8 million average viewers and a 35.7% audience share in the full 7.30pm to 9pm slot.

On Saturday, the first episode of The X Factor peaked with 9.6 million viewers and a 39.5% share between 8pm and 9.30pm. ITV1 also enjoyed top ratings for New You’ve Been Framed (which pulled in 3.6 million average viewers) and All Star Family Fortunes (5.3 million viewers).

At 9.30pm, The Jonathan Ross Show, with guests Helen Mirren and Harry Hill, started on a high of 3.4 million viewers but settled on 2.9 million average viewers and a 14.4% share during the full hour-long slot.

BBC One claimed the peak ratings from 10pm onwards with BBC News and Match of the Day, which peaked with 4.4 million viewers. BBC One also dominated the day-time ratings with its sports line-up. Football Focus scored 1.2 million viewers, Cycling attracted 1.1 million average viewers and the Singapore Grand Prix Qualifying race reached a high of 2.9 million viewers.

However, in the early morning slots, ITV1’s Rugby World Cup coverage won the peak audience. The England v Romania game attracted 2.7 million peak viewers, while the New Zealand v France match pulled in a high of 2.1 million viewers.

The picture was much the same on Sunday – ITV1 stole the show in the early morning and prime time slots, while BBC One led the way during the day-time slots.

The Argentina v Scotland rugby game achieved a peak audience of 2.7 million viewers at 10 o’clock, while The X Factor and Downton Abbey provided a winning combination for ITV1 between 7.30pm and 10.15pm. The second episode of Downton Abbey, starring Maggie Smith and Jim Carter, banked 9.3 million peak viewers for ITV.

In the day, the Formula One provided BBC One’s peak ratings – with more than 5.5 million viewers tuning in to see Sebastian Vettel win the Singapore Grand Prix.

And of course, The Only Way is Essex returned to our screens this weekend. The third series of the ITV2 BAFTA-winning reality show attracted its highest ratings yet – peaking with 1.6 million viewers at 10.15pm last night.

TOWIE is now one of ITV2’s top-rating programmes, just behind Celebrity Juice (2.25m top ratings) and Britain’s Got More Talent (1.99m).

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.