After all these comments from the XF fans, will be interesting to see their reactions tomorrow when it ends up being down year on year once again

I agree TXF is good tonight.

I do hope ITV have a BOAF special. However Corrie being weak will only weaken ITV on the day, being that its their best performer.

Those who laugh last, laugh longest Sammy baby.

It will probably be down year-on-year due to the hour long clash - you said as much yourself. This isn't going to be a shock to anyone.

I think we all know to take your 'predictions' (and that's all they are) with a pinch of salt. Look what happened last night. Ha!

The X Factor series 11
New Tricks series 11

Although in fairness given how much the BBC repeat it this could just as easily be New Tricks hundredth series.

"Mark my words", X Factor will build over the weeks this year.

It will definately be the second biggest show on a Saturday night, whether it's good or bad.

Of course it's going to be up next week because it will only be clashing against SCD for 15mins instead of 65mins, which is the case tonight. Itv have deliberately scheduled it like that to create an illusion that the show is naturally up week on week due to good word of mouth, although the rise will be solely down to the scheduling. But the series and live shows as a whole will still be down y-o-y.

DSRPG Prediction for The X Factor (exc. +1): 7.4m

There's no need for Gogglebox to exist, but it does. And it shouldn't be restricted to light and fluffy, wholesome fair 100% of the time, especially as it's after the watershed.

Why would they not feature Unreported World, one of their flagship documentary series that's been airing since 2000? I get that Gogglebox is supposed to be lighthearted but what they showed last night wasn't excessive.

Having said that I'm sick of the abundance of X Factor/Strictly/Downtown, they need more variety for sure.

Making excuses for its inevitable success a week early, smells like fear!

I have just done my research and the last time the 2nd XF Saturday night live show rated better than the first was in 2007. So clearly Itv have done the scheduling for some good PR next week, to say it's the first time since 2007 the show has gone up week on week for its 2nd live show. Theyre crafty people, knowing that clashing for 45mins less next week is automatically going to boost the average by +0.5million anyway, which will negate any potential drop-off. And the Sunday show will be up weekon week too due to starting 8pm on the dot.

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Ever thought you have too much time on your hands?

I think we can all agree that it was incredibly crafty of ITV to engineer this hour long clash with Strictly. The work it must have taken to manipulate the BBC1 schedule just so they can have a strong week two...

What is noticeable to me, is that the BBC seem to be worrying more about TXF competition than making a good show.

Seems to be a disappointing lot of Celebs for Strictly this year, particularly Judy Murray.

There's no time for him to think that, he's too busy writing his Book Of Excuses and Book Of Spin Statements.


Anyway I love how X Factor puts out a great show and all the haters start crying foul play at ITV

Itv could've aired XF between 8-10.30pm as they have done in previous years. But theyve gone for the hour long clash to dent SCD slightly and to ensure a low XF rating this week [accepting the bad PR that will come tomorrow], to deliberately crow next week when the show inevitably rises. This is all a very well thought out strategy by Cowell/Fincham/Bergg. They know what theyre going, theyre not stupid.

Why on earth would they want their family show to end as late as 10.30pm?

The later it ends, the lower its rating. This has been demonstrated. How dare they, literally how actually dare they stop it finishing after 10pm. ITV is trying to get good ratings for its 2.5 hour opening programme, the crafty, evil people they just take the p*** don't they?

Strictly could have started at 6pm instead of 6.30pm... what of it? If Strictly is the pinnacle it's supposed to be, and X Factor the flop, it shouldn't be a problem.

As Lily Allen once said, "I'm being taken over by the Fear" ... in your case Sammy, the Fear of Cowell.

Superb documentary on BBC2 about penguins and then Dad's Army...perfection

I really do think we should all applaud the crafty ITV scheduling here. Because we all know that a strong week two will absolutely cancel out and overshadow the two weeks of bad ratings PR they've had the last couple of weeks. Those crafty mofos.

But seriously...

The ratings war between Strictly and The X Factor is all about the horse race. The press will report who wins and loses. That The X Factor is up week-on-week is unlikely to get much wide play I suspect if it still loses it out to Strictly. I also think you'd be making these same posts if they scheduled it late (the earlier finish will inflate next weeks numbers, how crafty). You're worryingly obsessed with The X Factor at times Samuel.

Donny Osmond apparently boosted The One Show to a tape-checked rating of 4.07m (20.5%) against Emmerdale / Corrie, the best Wednesday hour-long rating and share in ages. Don't discount his appeal to women of a certain age, regardless of his on-screen abilities.

Please stop talking it down all the time.......The best line up of celebs the best start for most, The producers have ignored any other show SCD was an excellent show tonight, the opener was fantastic staged production. The songs, singers, lighting presentation, professionals and celebs was fantastic.

Judy is an example of someone with a lot of pluck, developing week after week, why do you single her out???

Let's see who wins the viewers tomorrow!

The Celebs on SCD are a list I am a celebrity can only wish for, all well known, not Z listers on other shows.

XF is past its sell by date and the male judges are way two old for the target teenage audience.