TV Overnights: The X Factor continues to dominate the weekend ratings
The X Factor‘s first live studio shows proved to be a hit for ITV once again this weekend, attracting a high of more than 13.5 million viewers.
On Saturday, the first of the two live shows saw the final 12 acts perform in front of the judges and a studio audience to keep their place in the competition as it begins to hot up. The performances pulled in an impressive 12.3 million peak viewers and a 43.8% average audience share between 8pm and 10pm.
However, even higher numbers tuned in to see Sunday’s hour-long show, which peaked with 13.5 million viewers and a 46.3% share. The phone-in verdict was given after guest appearances from Alexandra Burke and Robbie Williams, leaving girl-band Kandy Rain and 17-year-old Rachel Adedeji to perform once again.
The X Factor fell in the middle of ITV1’s peak run on Sunday, which started with the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever and ended with the fourth episode in the latest Doc Martin series. The Martin Clunes drama attracted a high of more than 9.1 million viewers and a 33% average audience share during the all-important 9pm to 10pm peak-slot.
The channel also secured the top spot on Friday evening with its flagship soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street, and the comedy series Benidorm. The second episode of the new six-part British comedy starring Steve Pemberton, Johnny Vegas and Sheridan Smith, pulled in 5.4 million average viewers and a 23.4% audience share during prime time.
BBC One’s final Criminal Justice, meanwhile, picked up 4.3 million average viewers and a 18.7% share between 9pm and 10pm. The new five-part drama ran every evening last week during the peak-hour, picking up a high of almost 5 million viewers on Monday night.
However, BBC One banked the highest ratings throughout most of the day-time schedule on Saturday, with coverage of the Live Snooker, Hole in the Wall, Merlin and Strictly Come Dancing, which peaked with 9.2 million viewers before The X Factor started over on ITV1.
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.