A few years ago, X was getting about 3-4 million more viewers than SCD.


Every week this year without fail SCD has beaten X in the ratings by at least 1 million viewers. It even beat it last night.

What has gone so horribly wrong in the last few years? Is it the crap acts? The judges? The overall format?

SCD has had the same format for 11 seasons and is still going strong but why is X bombing? Im generally interested what fans think?

I used to be a huge fan but this year and last year have killed the show I feel

I think you've answered your own question. It's had the same format and it works.

If Simon was in charge of Strictly we would have had twists galore - wildcards, shock eliminations, two women on the panel ...

Strictly is slow and sure and great chill out TV. It has a classic format that can go on for years.

Do the viewing figures include ....... repeats (Strictly doesn't have one), +1 (BBC doesn't have one), or people who record ITV whilst watching BBC so they can fast forward through the ads.? If not, then this might contribute to Strictly's greater share of the figures.

I agree with you on all points. But I think Strictly has hugely benefitted by having Darcey Bussell on the panel.

SCD has stars in it - celebs etc People know them and have watched them for years so follow them - same as im a celebrity etc

Xfactor you get people nobody knows - plus saturday night is when most people into music go out to party. Dermot was right - the shows on too late and 2 hours is too long.

XF alienated the OAPs in its last couple of years and guess what? old folks are pretty much guaranteed to watch the telly...

And I don't watch Strictly so can't comment on its quality over the years but XF has really suffered a decline in that department.

Strictly managed to weather the ratings storm a few years ago when it seemed a bit in decline - it has come through the other side stronger.

The trouble with the XF is that it doesn't know what it is anymore - should we be taking it seriously or not? the whole Week 1 thing with Louis was a stunt gone very wrong and I think that although the ratings weren't as good as previous years, that prank kinda finished it off for alot of people.

Strictly is just good all round fun, which doesn't take itself too seriously - its light and extremely watchable (obviously with fast forward on standby for Brucie). XF has so much filler that its so hard to watch it live. Basically every aspect of the show needs to be looked at and improved.

On another topic, it will be interesting to see how Series 2 of the Voice does next year - not a complete ratings success in the end, but will be interesting to see if people who have switched off from the XF will tune into the Voice

Agree with you totally on this, even if some of the celebrities are a bit 'c' list at best - at least they are 'familiar'. This coupled with the 'talent' that has been chosen for the XF finals over the last few years has just got worse and worse.

I only watch the early stages of XF (where you have the joke acts and those acts that are good and show potential but the 'experts' see fit to get rid of). Have the viewing figures gone down drastically for these early stages? As for me - this is the only 'watchworthy' bit of this excuse for a show.

Stricly does not try to blatantly manipulate the public vote or keep people in for entertainment value and dress it up as a credible excuse. Strictly's critique of the acts has far more substance and no-one really cares who wins in the end because they are just celebrities. The show is not playing with anyone's life and raising false hopes.

Yes they do. Even with plus 1 last night, SCD beat X by 1.5 million viewers.

Because Strictly does not pretend to be anything other than a bit of fluff, none of the celebs are ever going to go on and become the world ballroom dancing champions no matter how good they are. This drivel about he XF finding a credible recording artist- it's never going to happen as people who like credible music wouldn't be seen dead even watching the show let alone buying the music of someone associated with it.

Aside from that its good old fashioned fun. No manipulation, a judging panel that not only have good chemistry but are for the most part fair and offer constructive advice. It also feels a lot slicker and better produced, I doubt the BBC have the budged that the ITV do and yet the X factor feel ammeter by comparison.

I never watched it until last year but now I prefer it. There are non of the overt machinations and manipulations because it just doesn't matter to the celebs. It's just good wholesome fun and you get to see people develop skills, to varying degrees, along the way. Their 'villain' judge is so much better at it too. Caustic queen. Love him.

Isn't this what everyone was expecting with Series 1?!

The Voice posted huge declines during its first series so it has a big job on its hands. Maybe if they stop focusing on how they're different to The X Factor and actually produce a half decent live show they might get somewhere.

The live shows were basically third rate X Factor...

Truly appalling television.

XF was still relatively popular in Series 8; certainly more so than now.

I agree though it does have a big job on its hands to recover what it lost throughout the series, the live shows weren't great and that whole part of the series needs a revamp.

I dont know if it will happen though. I think the Blinds will do well (like before), then I guess its anyone's guess

I agree. For me the only good thing about the Voice was the spinning chairs at the auditions, but that got boring after about the second episode. Then it was just exactly the same as the X Factor, minus the joke act.

The reason The X Factor is declining is because we've seen it all before and it's starting to get repetitive. We've seen countless joke acts, countless controversial and 'shock' eliminations. It's all become a bit predictable now, plus Gary and Tulisa aren't very likeable or charismatic.

One of the great things about this series has been Nicole's presence on the panel - I hope she comes back for next series.

I don't watch Strictly but I hear it's a fun feel good show and the judges are all likeable people, so maybe that's why it's doing better?

strictly has the brucie bonus, of course

i thought the presentation flat, in the week he had off.

because as we have said many times..every year we get the same shitty singers winning. have you not twiggged yet

Scd is more fun, less predictable, fresher than XF. It is a feel good show which entertains all generations of viewers from kids to great grandparents. It is one of Britains finest exports and there is a lot of love for the show. XF on the other hand has a negative vibe, is predictable, repetitive and celebrates the success of joke acts like Ryland Clark. It's not surprising at all that Scd is thrashingg XF in the ratings this series.

i'd like to believe because nicky byrne is there... a westlife member haha


and to add x factor uk is a lousy this season

Even Westlife stars have their expiry dates - no spoiler intended!

Maybe cos SCD - bar a few nasty comments from one of the judges - is a warm friendly show for all the family.

X factor is very manipulated - and is often quite nasty with a low rent studio audience. The treatment of Christopher Maloney was a great example last night - you would never find booing going on of a finalist in SCD.

XF is turning into BIG brother with the rent a mob audience booing the finalist. Such a lack of respect from parts of XF audience, it is very off putting for viewers at home. You come home after a long day and want to be entertained with a fun feel good show, not something which is negative and controversial.

Teenage girls I am afraid with no respect. That's why every girlfriend of Harry from One Direction needs good security and should shut her facebook/twitter account. Scary!

X factor is on to late people who watch it are more likely to spend sat evening out.

to many repeats of x factor if itv want to raise viewing figures should stop repeating it every few days.

this year striclty has done well due its strong celeb line up it was first year i knew everyone on it. etc the judge will be next year if they don't match the line-up viewing figures will fall.

it funny when striclty get 8-9 million they are doing great when it x factor crisis yes they had more figrues in past but that was during the recession when people were spending more evenings in behind the tv.

O.l.d P.e.o.p.l.e