Weekend battle sees Strictly continue to slay X Factor
Just for a bit of a change, the past weekend saw BBC One’s lighter-than-Aero weekend clap-along Strictly Come Dancing excitedly foxtrot all over the competition’s face, racing to the top of both Saturday and Sunday’s schedule.
The weekend’s first taste of glitz, teeth and wildly variable dancing skills kicked off at 6:35pm on Saturday evening, with an average audience of 9.3 million viewers tuning in for an hour and 45 minutes of high-camp, low-effort fun.
This weekend’s sparkly entertainment once again looked to see if any of the eleven remaining contestants had what it takes to defeat Peter Andre, the nation’s favourite participant (and renowned professional singer and dancer), with BBC One securing a solid 43% share.
Clocking in with 15 minutes less running time was ITV’s big show of the night, dramatised karaoke show The X Factor (8pm), which continued to tinker with the once-magic formula with irritating results.
Blame ‘industry trends’ if you like, but Saturday’s visit to the pre-recorded judges houses stage now consisted of a live feed from Wembley Stadium, where the judges and contestants basically watched along live, just like us the simple viewer!
6.2 million viewers tuned in to see grown men and women cry and beg for another stab at stardom as the judges brought along some ‘very special guests’ to trim down their groups in another bloody cull.
Elsewhere Doctor Who wrapped up another two part adventure at 8:20pm on BBC One as Game of Thrones‘s Maisie Williams returned as immortal Viking tomboy Ashildr. An audience of 4.3 million viewers tuned in to see the Doctor drop Clara for a new BFF, getting caught up with a 17th century heist and securing a 20% share.
Afterwards Casualty (9:20pm) brought in another solid audience to BBC One, with the latest mixture of romance, personal crisis and bodily fluids resulting in 4 million viewers and a 19% share.
Sunday brought another bout of salsaing sequins and vocal high notes as the nation’s favourite reality competitions once again went head to head.
Before all that though, Argentina’s clash with Australia in the second semi-final of the Rugby World Cup (3pm) on ITV secured 3.3 million viewers and a 22% share.
At 6:15pm, mammoth Sunday institution Countryfile (BBC One) charmed a little under 7 million viewers with scenes of rolling rural hills and picturesque fishing villages, resulting in a 34% share.
Meanwhile ITV launched a new family scare-fest, Jekyll and Hyde at 6:30pm, with writer Charlie Higson’s take moving the action to 1930s London as the grandson of the original character got to grips with some questionable genes he inherited.
3.2 million viewers tuned in to see Tom Bateman take on the role and channel some Doctor Who-lightness to proceedings, resulting in a 15% share.
At 7:15pm, BBC One brought another 45 minutes of Strictly Come Dancing to the close-of-week party. 8.6 million viewers tuned in to see the latest untalented hopeful get booted off after losing the latest dance off, resulting in a 36% audience share.
[advert position=”left”]At the same time, ITV was in a much more generous mood and provided starved viewers with another hour and a half of contrived decision-making on The X Factor at 7:30pm.
6 million viewers watched as Simon, Rita, CF-V and Nick whittled their groups down to three acts, resulting in a 25% share, a noticeable smaller audience than BBC One’s Countryfile!
9pm saw both BBC One and ITV battle it out for the scripted drama crown, with the corporation airing the fourth and final part of barmy murder drama From Darkness.
Starring Anne-Marie Duff as a haunted former copper on the trail of a slayer of young women, the series opened with 4.1 million viewers three weeks ago, with last night’s finale falling to 2.9 million viewers and a 13% share.
Over on ITV, it was time for the latest random act of grotesque horror on the final series of Downton Abbey (9pm). After last week’s tribute to Alien ruined everyone’s Sunday night, thankfully things were a little more pedestrian yesterday as the Earl of Grantham got some bed-rest while wayward daughter Mary got fresh with a boy.
An audience of 7.2 million viewers watched as the Crawley family moved with the times and opened the door of the Abbey to the public, sending the Dowager Countess into a meltdown and securing a 33% 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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