'Dancing' takes lead in Saturday ratings

Strictly Come Dancing pulled back ahead of The X Factor on Saturday night, according to early figures.

The performances show, broadcast over 75 minutes from 6.20pm, pulled in an average of 7.8 million viewers and a 38.7% audience share, ranking first for the day overall. ITV1's rival performances show put in 7.26 million (35.3%) over 80 minutes from 6.50pm, finishing third overall.

The later results shows, both broadcast between 9.10pm and 9.40pm, were neck-and-neck; ultimately Dancing had the edge, however, with 6.96 million (31.5%) versus 6.82 million (30.8%).

A racially-themed Casualty managed second for the day, averaging 7.41 million (35.1%) from 8.20pm while on ITV1, Millionaire had 5.63 million (26.8%).

Channel 4 barely registered, drawing just 1.02 million (4.9%) for the two hour history doc When the Moors Ruled in Europe before rising to 1.27 million (5.8%) for a Father Ted repeat at 9.10pm. Five put in a respectable 1.99 million (9.3%) with a CSI repeat at 9.10pm and 1.91 million (10.5%) for a Law and Order: Special Victims Unit repeat an hour later.

BBC Two finished last, recahing a peak of just 1.05 million (5%) for Auschwitz: The Nazis and the `Final Solution' at 8.20pm. A new Bodies had 0.93 million (4.4%) between 9.10pm and 10.10pm.

ITV2 was the clear leader in multichannel homes, beginning with 398,000 (2.7%) for the first of the night's Xtra Factor shows at 8.10pm. The second, shown at 9.40pm, pulled in a hefty 704,000 (4.8%) for first place overall. Jurassic Park III averaged 628,000 (5.3%) between 10.10pm and 11.50pm for second.

Sister channel ITV3 also fared well, averaging 395,000 (2.7%) for Poirot at 7.10pm and 318,000 (2.1%) for Carry On Cruising an hour later.