X Factor suffers ratings dip as Strictly Come Dancing pulls back viewersAn average of 10.9million tuned in on Saturday to watch the likes of Frankie Cocozza, Craig Colton and Janet Devlin perform in the first live show of the year, ahead of Sunday's results show which saw James Michael, Amelia Lily, 2 Shoes and Jonjo Kerr exit the competition.
The ratings for Saturday's show peaked at 12.7million – a loss of almost one million viewers from the 13.5million who tuned into the same show last year.
The news might have come as a surprise to ITV bosses, who have so far enjoyed a ratings boost following the arrival of new judges Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos and Kelly Rowland.
X Factor boss Simon Cowell reportedly lost over £200k in voting revenue after forcing the judges to send one of their own acts home in a 'big twist' designed to pull in viewers, but the gamble failed to pay off.
Many were put off by the large number of adverts during the show, with more than half an hour of adverts during the 90 minute programme.
Metro