I think this an important night for X Factor, as the last two first live shows have been pretty underwhelming. It's this rating which would determine what the figures will look like in the coming weeks.

I'm going for 8.2

Level with last week? I don't think so.

What average and peak are you hoping for tonight's show?

To be fair, closer to 9m, though I secretly want it to be a million higher even though it probably won't be. Peak would be about a million higher than the average.

9.0m with a peak of 10m sound better

As it is XFactors first live show of the series, which has been trailed all across Itv over the last week, I expect it to be rating in the high 8s/low 9s tonight and close the gap on SCD. I'll be shocked if it doesnt get more than 8.5million excluding +1.

I still think SCD is going to be well ahead. It's not going to close the gap. Shorten it, maybe. The clash will probably not help it that much, as we saw with the breakdowns for last week.

XF averaged 8.1m (35%) and peaked with 9.5m (40%) - inc +1.

Must let out a bit of an ouch. Quite a large one actually.

Not only is it lower than last week, it's down on the equivalent show last year.

For comparison, SCD got 9.8m so without +1 it would have been ahead by 2m.

It's disappointing. Looks like the live shows are going to be down year on year.

XFactor is currently struggling in the ratings, last night's episode averaged 7.8million viewers on Itv. This was down 1MILLION viewers from last year's first live show, 2.5million from 2011 and about 4.5million viewers from 2010. It was the fifth episode in a row in which TXFs ratings were down from last year, last years ratings at the time were being called dire.

Strictly Come Dancing on the other hand averaged 9.8million viewers, 2million more than XF! It looks like XFactor, no matter how many changes they keep making to the format and panel, is going downhill in the ratings. People who used to watch just arent interested in rewatching the show!

You are really dull. Why do you seem so concerned about XF's ratings? Do you work for them?

At least it hasn't lost half of its viewers across the series like The Voice!

It's not a bloody ratings crisis - I seriously think you're trolling now. If it's a crisis, it's one the likes of Channel 4 & 5 would love to have.

It's a shame as I thought it was one of the best and most entertaining live show in a while

You never know, it may pick up at some point.

It is more likely to continue to dwindle as viewers switch off because of the tired format, tired judges repeating the same cliches week after week, series after series, manipulation and most of all the complete dearth of original talent.

That is not really a fair comparison now is it?

It should be a concern for the xfactor because its saturday shows are not getting the ratings they used to, although Sunday is doing very well still.

If it starts from a lower point than in previous years it is likely to drop further in later weeks. (it usually drops rather than builds) apart from the final.

I suppose in some ways it is comparable to the ratings slide of big brother and we know what channel 4 did about that in the end?

Yes it still has decent ratings in comparison to other shows and the minor channels however in comparison to its previous series it IS lower and the comparison to SCD (2 million difference) is huge.

Only a proper advertising campaign, or any way of gaining momentum will save the show now.

The flash vote doesn't seem to have worked in terms of keeping viewers watching on a Saturday night.

Disappointing, there's no way to spin those ratings really. I enjoyed last night but can see why it's becoming tired for some people.

I think it is lacking because it doesnt have any real stand out acts (they are all decent but no one has caught the public imagination... yet) and there is no joke act (i know people dislike them but they do bring headlines and therefore ratings) every act is ok but ok is not good enough, no one turns in for ok.

They will have a lot to worry about if tonight's result show loses to Strictly's pre recorded one

That's not good considering that the flash vote should spark more interest, not less.

I don't care about the ratings, it could get 3 million viewers and I would still watch and enjoy it, why do some people on here ever year whinge and moan about XF yet still carry on watching it, and unlike the BBC, you can't use the Licence fee as an excuse. (some people luv to use that line for EE)

It COULD be above 9m tonight but I'm not counting on it.

They didn't explain it very well. Loads of people on here were confused as to the point of it and what was going on.

Yep, that's what they need - a much larger advertising campaign!

^ This

It's not our problem really, let's just enjoy it whilst it's on

You should care about the ratings because if it dips a lot, Itv will have no other choice but to axe it. If XF dropped to 3m, it'd be curtains for XFactor, all over.