Ratings Roundup: Round 2 goes to 'Dancing'

The second head-to-head battle between Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor saw the BBC reality show come out on top.

Last week, ITV claimed victory with an audience of 6.7 million (32.6%) against the BBC's 6.1 million (28.3%), while both results shows were even at 7.5 million.

Yesterday, The X Factor was down to an average of just 6.15 million and a 32.4% audience share between 6pm and 7.15pm, peaking in the final ten minutes with 7.40 million (36.2%). Strictly Cme Dancing, meanwhile, pulled in 6.95 million (34.2%) between 6.35pm and 7.45pm, with a peak of 7.95 million (37.8%) coming towards the end.

Later in the evening, X Factor's 45-minute result show averaged 6.70 million (31.8%) from 9.25pm, trounced by the Strictly Come Dancing verdict with 7.85 million (36.8%) and a peak of 8.21 million (37.8%).

ITV had some luck with Saturday Night Takeaway, which pulled ahead of the National Lottery Draw with 7.21 million (34.6%) over 5.50 million (26.3%) respectively. Millionaire? averaged 5.84 million (27.1%) over an hour starting 8.25pm while on the Beeb, Casualty drew 7.30 million (33.7%).

An appearance of Dame Edna Everage boosted Parkinson from 5.4 million to 6.36 million (33.8%) at 10.10pm.

Over on multichannel, LivingTV had success with its Most Hanuted Live strand, which averaged 430,000 viewers and a 3.8% multichannel share between 9pm and 12am. A repeat showing on its timeshift channel added a further 108,000 viewers.

Predictably, The Xtra Factor was ITV2's top draw, with audiences of 365,000 (2.8%) and 580,000 (4.7%) at 8.25pm and 10.10pm. Late night movie Silence of the Lambs frightened 211,000 (2.7%).

Overall during primetime, ITV1 held the top spot with an average share of 31.6% (last week: 32.2%) against BBC One's 30.2% (27.1%). BBC Two was third with 8.8% (8.4%), followed by Five on 6.2% (5.1%) and Channel 4 on 4.0% (8.2%).