The X Factor retains its weekend crown

The X Factor kept hold of its weekend top spot with over 12 million peak viewers, despite the publicity surrounding John Sergeant’s exit from Strictly Come Dancing last week.

More than 10.6 million average viewers tuned in to see the Take That X Factor special on Saturday between 7.25pm and 8.55pm, securing ITV with a 43% audience share.

The later results show, which saw a sing off between boy band JLS and soul singer Rachel Hylton, pulled in 9.1 million average viewers and a 41% audience share between 9.55pm and 10.40pm.

Meanwhile, BBC One’s rival competition show, Strictly Come Dancing, attracted more than 11 million peak viewers on Saturday evening, with a 42.5% average audience share between 6.20pm and 7.25pm.

However, the programme failed to overtake The X Factor even with Sergeant’s last dance, though it gained viewers compared with last weeks’ ratings (see NewsLine).

BBC One’s Sunday edition of the show, which saw the model and television presenter Jodie Kidd become the 11th celebrity to be voted off, banked 10.1 million average viewers with a 35.5% audience share.

Elsewhere, ITV1’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! picked up just under 8 million peak viewers on Friday evening and around 7.8 million on Sunday evening.

However, the reality programme attracted over 9 million peak viewers on Saturday night, in between the X Factor‘s live show and later results show.

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.

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk