X Factor’s Return Gives Much Needed Boost To ITV1

The return of ITV1’s X Factor gave the network a much needed ratings boost on Saturday evening, beating BBC One’s Reality singing contest, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? in the 7pm timeslot.

Almost six million adult viewers tuned in to see the start of the new series of the talent quest, taking a 35% adult viewing share at the time, compared to …Maria‘s almost 25% share with just over four million adult viewers.

However, the National Lottery and Casualty on BBC One managed higher audience figures than ITV1’s double bill of You’ve Been Framed and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire between 8pm and 9.30pm.

6.6 and 6.3 million adult viewers watched the Lottery and Casualty respectively, compared to Framed and Millionaire‘s 3.1 and 3.9 million respectively.

Midsomer Murders on ITV1 could not compete with the 9.30pm edition of …Maria followed by Match Of The Day on BBC One.

The detective drama took an almost 20% audience share, compared to …Maria‘s 25%, and was watched by 3.4 million adult viewers, whilst the late edition of Lloyd-Weber’s show and Match Of The Day were seen by almost five million and just over three million adult viewers respectively.

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, ITV2 and Sky One.

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