Strictly Come Dancing launched with a record 9.3 million viewers on Saturday night – the biggest audience yet for its launch show
The BBC’s opening show of Strictly Come Dancing 2016 – which saw the celebrity contestants paired with their pro dancers – attracted an average of 9.3 million viewers (46.4 % share) and a peak of 10.1 million.
Viewers saw EastEnders star Tameka Empson paired with hot new Spanish dancer Gorka Marquez, model Daisy Lowe with previous Strictly champ Aljaz Skorjanec and Olympic gymnast Claudia Fragapane, this year’s youngest contestant at just 18, with another new pro, AJ Pritchard.
(Click here for our picture special on all 15 dance partnerships).
The figures for the Strictly launch are 600,000 up on last year, when an average of 8.7 million tuned in.
The figures come after The X Factor suffered its lowest launch ratings in 10 years — despite a revamp by Simon Cowell.
ITV’s X Factor launch show last weekend was watched by 6.8 million (34% share) and peak of 7.5 million.
Saturday night’s third X Factor episode of auditions was beaten by Strictly, although the rival shows were not broadcast at the same time.
The X Factor was watched by 8.3 million viewers (39%) and peaked with 9.2 million – adding another 1.5 million viewers from the same episode last week.
The ITV show was broadcast after BBC1 show Strictly finished at 8.15pm.
ITV said that the figures are up year on year – the third episode last year was watched by 7.7 million (35.3% share).
Strictly Come Dancing goes live with back-to-back shows on BBC1 on Friday September 23 and Saturday September 24. But details of the shows’ times is yet to be announced.
