I think we need some facts put back in this thread. I'm somewhat bewildered by those that are calling The X Factor's ratings good. If I'm to be quite honest, I think they're alright. Not bad, but nothing to be impressed about. Now, to compare:

2008 - 10.4m (41.0%) *peak: 11.3m (49%)
2009 - 11.3m (43.8%) *peak: 12.9m
2010 - 12.2m (48.5%) *peak: 13.8m
2011 - 10.4m (40.3%) / 10.9m *peak: 12.1m / 12.7m

Now, the clash period:

2008 - no clash
2009 - 75 minute clash
2010 - no clash
2011 - 35 minute clash

Even if it didn't clash, I think it would have been ~11.4m including +1, without seeing a breakdown it's hard to know who dented what.

However, do I think it will rate lower than 2009 and 2010 in the series' averages? Yes.

by how much?

It is very good. I enjoyed the US run a lot.


And you obviously can't read because I qualified that statement with 'during the early stages at least'.


It didn't start until 10PM and followed on from more than 2 hours of the main show. I think all things considered it did relatively well. However if it settles in that territory for the rest of the run then I imagine ITV will be disappointed.

PJ, would be interested to see the Wales/Ireland and F1 ratings if you could put them in your report

Its always very tricky to talk about The X Factor's ratings because the second you use the words 'poor' or 'disappointing' to describe a 10+ million average it feels wrong and people question it.

You're right though relative to previous years I can't imagine ITV being overjoyed with this figure.

Just Seen those BBC 2 Ratings. Wow great ratings for those 3 programs.

2 years ago there was a 75 minute clash and that X factor still rated 1m better than last nights.


Well considering the results shows usually get 14m, 11m shouldn't be a stretch.

I think it should easily top 12m

I Understand what your talking about DMN But remmber those years X Facor aways had a public vote. Now last night was different maybe some viewers didn't want to watch becuase of that.

Why are you rolling your eyes? Searching for a brain cell? They usually peak at that figure I thought.

I didn't pay much attention or remember the results ratings, so I just guessed the 11 million. You are probably right.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of impact the no public vote twist has on the results show tonight.

The amount of people that vote anyway is incredibly small, I doubt it made much difference with regards whether they would choose to watch or not.

True. But i on the X Factor thread alot of people hate the twist and i've read some twitter comments who hate it to. So it's possible that it might have had some impact

Yeah but technically it was JH p2, this ttime they were picking there top 3.

also a lot of people I know said 2 and half hours is too long and said they would watch it from week 2 onwards

It was too long. I was getting very tired and borad towards the end

Anyway forgetting about X Factor for a minute. I am stunned by those BBC 2 Ratings really to get 3 programs over 2m is amazing and it seems to have gone unnoticed

Hilarious. Maybe GeorgeS can get you a job in the ITV Department of Spin?


Yeah, like those who are so obsessed by every minutiae of TXF that they fill 150 pages up on DS during each show are actually going to not tune in to their favourite show because "they hate the twist".....

I think that considering that Merlin is down on its overnight figures too compared to last year it might point to a continuing change in viewing habits. It'll be interesting to see the finally figures for episode one in a week or two because I would bet they are on par with last year. It really feels like fewer and fewer people feel the need to watch TV live now. Of course, for the BBC that isn't too much of a headache and 5.5m is a very respectable figure if it's getting nearer 7m overall (not even including the iPlayer). More troublesome for the commercial channels obviously.

Ironic that with the talk all week of "the twist", TXF should then go on to lose out to a dance show when head to head!

Seen as the twist was officially revealed during the week and comes into play on sunday not saturday's show, no it is not ironic at all......

Lol, there has got to be a Monty Python sketch somewhere here

I hope last nights figures encourage the Beeb to be bold and not move SCD and Merlin earlier this year. If Merlin sticks at 8.15 and SCD airing at whatever time it needs to finish at 8.15, then I reckon both Beeb shows will benefit from later slots and more available viewers, whilst TXF will be dented by the clash, and TV Burp won't get it's usual post SCD/pre TXF bounce.

That really was a poor showing for Burp's return last night, although the content itself wasnt that bad.

I don't see why people are agruing over TXF ratings, it did VERY well as there was a clash.

What is worrying is the Xtra Factor. I know the main show was long and people didn't want to watch another hour of it, but 796k out of 11m coming back is not too good, compared to the lets say, Mark's exit from Big Brother being watched by 1.4m, and 400k watching on 5* the same day. There was a bigger retention (to a much smaller channel than ITV2)

Didn't come into play last night? So viewers phoned in as normal then?

Someone best warn Ofcom....