I think Dan R's kidding - no-one would ever call X-factor distinguished entertainment.

Nice bait, but I'm not gonna take it. Sorry.

Certainly does ADP, X Factor is the highhesf rated entertainment show, and it's also in the list three times. Apart from Bake Off, the rest is sport.

So the story that tells me, is that despite it's current state, XF is the most watched entertainment show of the decade so far, and ITV has the crown for it.

And it tells us they have lost over 10 million viewers in only 6 years. That's some going that and someone should be sacked. Oh

Yep. TXF used to be a TV event. Strictly never has been and never will be.

Strictly's been far more stable than ex-factor, lost ten million viewers in six years

Where's Eastenders in that list? The 25th anniversary got 16.5m

That's not a great look for the BBC when it relied on sport to score giant ratings. GBBO did what XF did and broke the mould. Hard to see anything topping 15m now others than an England soccer match. 12m might watch on Friday. The picture is as bleak for itv as it is for BBC1 now.

Strictly hasn't hit 19 million peaks or 17 million averages though, now, has it? It also hasn't averaged 15m for a whole series which XF did at its prime.

Swings and roundabouts. It may be doing (comparatively) shite numbers now but it's gone far higher than Strictly will ever go.

What would be really nice is if people got a grip.

I can't believe that The Ex Factor got such big ratings only six years ago.

Axing new shows is rather like chopping and changing soccer managers, ultimately you end up failing. Both channels need to give new shows a chance to grow and see how they do in different slots.

I'm surprised 18-34 year olds are as keen to watch magic acts as they are to watch celebrities dance. Paul Daniels would be pleased.

Well we all know, the higher you go, the further you can fall. SCD hasn't fell because it never reached those heights!

And no one can I say I'm anti X Factor now either!

Flip it the other way and has a show ever had such a disastrous drop in ratings in such a short space of time ? Bet someone would like to get a grip on that.

Nice to see some balance around for a change.

I never said that strictly had hit those peaks, just saying it has been far More stable which is true and no I don't need to get a grip thanks

Another wonderfully mature post.
I've really come to expect them from you in droves Oliver.

Big Brother and Deal or No Deal are two prime examples of shows that were huge for their network but fell much faster and harder than X Factor. American Idol fell faster in the US too.

Also the first series of The Voice UK had the same trajectory that XF has had over the past 6 years across 6 weeks!

You could say XF is Man United and SCD is Man City.

Thanks, it's a real honour coming from a wonderfully mature poster as yourself

Millionaire had a dramatic fall. Neighbours fell a lot in 6 years. Dallas fell a tad from the 21m peak.

Just imagine if Simon called it day in 2010, the show would have true legendary status.
Get out when the audience wanted more....

XF more Liverpool, living on past glories

Look we get it - The X Factor was a behemoth but it isn't now. It's doing okay and little more than that. It needs to stabilise and quickly. Do we really need pages and pages of pathetic childish baiting about it week after week? What's so amazing about this week's ratings compared to last week that calls people to comment on it, except maybe it held up better than expected yesterday considering...

What an astounding figure for Planet Earth! I didn't see that coming; 7m maybe but not over 9m. That's just stunning. I know someone mentioned earlier than BBC cannot be relaible on it but they're not - if they have nothing else next year they'll just stick Antiques Roadshow there which'll pull in around 6m. Strictly did really well too.

As long as The Next Great Magician doesn't fall any further it's probably a good enough rating for it. Maybe it should have been given an easier slot with something more reliable taking on Strictly, like The Chase?

Yes, forgot about Millionaire

Think of the millions of pounds ITV would have lost...