Strictly Come Dancing beat rival show The X Factor in their first head-to-head clash this year. Strictly attracted 9.2 million viewers while The X Factor attracted 6.8 million.
Strictly Come Dancing waltzed over The X Factor on Saturday night in the first head-to-head clash this series between the rival shows – notching up 9.2 million viewers.
The BBC ballroom-dancing show featured Ed Balls completing an energetic Charleston, with a tie at the top of the leaderboard between ex-Hollyoaks actor Danny Mac and former Eternal singer Louise Redknapp. Last week's star Daisy Lowe performed a Cha Cha with partner Aljaz Skorjanec.
The X Factor saw Simon choose his final three girls to take through to the live shows. Viewers were left stunned when bookies favourite Caitlyn Vanbeck didn't make it through to the next round. Spice Girls Emma Bunton and Mel B also appeared on the show.
Strictly, hosted by presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, enjoyed a peak audience of 10.3 million viewers at 7.45pm.
It attracted an average of 9.2 million tuning in to watch the show, which was a 44.6% audience share.
The X Factor – which has had an overhaul and features Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh, Simon Cowell, and Nicole Scherzinger as judges – attracted 6.8 million viewers (a 33% share) and peaked with 8.1 million viewers.
Strictly Come Dancing was broadcast between 6.20pm and 8.25pm, while The X Factor aired from 8pm to 9.50pm, meaning the shows went head-to-head for the first time this series for 25 minutes.
ITV said viewing figures were up by 200,000 on the first Judges’ Houses show from the 2015 series, when 6.6 million tuned in.
Although there was no clash last week, Strictly was up 600,000 viewers on last Saturday while X Factor dropped 300,000 viewers.
The two shows clash again tonight with Strictly's first results show and the second half of The X Factor's judges houses.
And the head-to-heads continue next Saturday night when The X Factor goes live for the first time this year.
The X Factor continues tonight at 7:30pm on ITV1.
Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 7:15pm on BBC1.
