Strictly welcomes back Claudia with 10m viewers for BBC One
Once again, Saturday night’s biggest hit came in the form of the perpetually tap-dancing, perma-smiling celebrities of Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One, 7pm), which easily eclipsed ITV’s hyperbole spectacular The X Factor (8pm).
An audience of 9.2 million viewers tuned in to see the return of host Claudia Winkleman after a few weeks off, with the remaining eight couples doing all they could to remain safe with the fickle voting audience.
After reaching the dizzying heights of the Blackpool Tower Ballroom last week, Saturday’s slice of cheesy cha-cha-chaing saw the relatively short production (an hour and fifteen minutes) return to the studios, securing the day’s biggest audience with a 39% share.
A little bit later on ITV’s dream factory, it was time for the vocal battle and competitive dramatics of The X Factor, with Saturday’s hopefuls treated to a surprise elimination just for the hell of it.
The Elton John and Whitney Houston-themed night of horror saw spunky and ground-breaking cross gendered boy/girl group Only the Young sacrificed to the ratings Gods, pulling in 7.5 million viewers to the unexpected massacre.
The assassination of their sassy attitudes and formulated edge brought in a 32% share to the one hour and forty minute show.
Earlier in the day both terrestrial BBC channels offered up a bit of Rugby Union, with Scotland facing off against Tonga at 2:15pm on BBC One. A total of 1.8 million viewers and a 17% share stayed tuned for the entire coverage, which resulted in an easy win for Scotland.
But it was the match from Cardiff on BBC Two afterwards that secured the bigger audience, with home team Wales facing a proper trashing from New Zealand.
2.3 million viewers watched the home team lose the 34-16 game, netting a 4% share.
The rest of BBC One’s evening was made up of easy communal viewers, with Atlantis netting 3.6 million and a 16% share at 8:15pm, while Casualty (9pm) secured its usual audience of 3.6 million and a 16% share.
King of the weekday schedule, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! took a backseat at the weekend, with former Playboy Playmate Kendra failing her Catacombs of Doom trial. 7.4 million viewers and a 36% share tuned in to watch the camp go hungry for another night.
History was repeated on Sunday evening with the results on Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One, 7:15pm) not only capturing Sunday’s biggest audience but the biggest of the entire weekend.
An audience of 10 million viewers tuned in to see nature TV presenter Steve Backshall receive his marching orders, netting an impressive 40% share.
Straight afterwards on ITV, The X Factor Results (8pm) improved on the previous night with 7.8 million frustrated viewers rejoicing as children’s entertainer Stevi Ritchie left the competition.
The man who out-survived actual talented vocalists netted a 30% share for ITV with his farewell performance.
9pm brought the start of a new mystery drama to BBC One, with the Michael Palin-starring Remember Me bringing in 5.3 million viewers and a 21% share.
On ITV, 8.9 million watched as Jake Quickenden and Melanie Sykes got their hands on plenty of coveted plastic stars in their trials, with the latest I’m a Celebrity… (9pm) bringing in a 37% share.
At the same time, Channel 4 had one hell of a shock in store for fans of Homeland (9pm) as former marine turned terrorist Nicholas Brody made a brief return to Carrie Mathison’s life, despite his highly publicised death in the previous series.
A little over 1 million viewers tuned in to see Carrie’s emotional hallucinations get the better of her, resulting in a 4% share.
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. Overnight data supplied by TRP are based on 15 minute slot averages. This may differ from tape checked figures, which are based on a programme’s actual start and end time.
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