'X Factor' loses 1m to summer heat

The X Factor was down by more than 1 million viewers last night (Saturday), according to early ratings figures.

The unusually warm weather led to a decline in the overall TV audience, with the ITV1 reality show registering one of the largest losses.

The X Factor was still easily the most-watched show of the day, though, with 8.16m and a steady 43.5% share between 7.10pm and 8.10pm. Last week's episode was seen by 9.43m (45.4%) in a slightly later, 7.30pm timeslot.

The finale of choral competition Last Choir Standing brought in decent ratings for BBC One throughout the evening. The performances show had 4.39m (28.7%) from 6pm to 7.05pm, comfortably ahead of the 3.72m (23.7%) for ITV1's Funniest Ever You've Been Framed!

The results show, which saw 18-strong Welsh group 'Only Men Aloud' crowned champions, had an impressive 5.22m (24.9%) between 8.50pm and 9.20pm.

BBC One also aired two special shows to celebrate the good work of the National Lottery. Anchored by Ben Shephard and Jenni Falconer, The National Lottery: Big Seven had 3.76m (19%) over 50 minutes from 8pm, then a further 3.76m (18.6%) over 40 minutes from 9.20pm. The Weakest Link had the lowest performance of the night for BBC One, taking 3.41m (18.6%) against The X Factor between 7.05pm and 8pm.

Post-X Factor, ITV1 managed to retain a decent chunk of the audience. A celeb edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, featuring Scot duo Kirsty Gallacher and Duncan Bannatyne, pulled in 4.72m (23.4%) from 8.10pm. An hour later, Guy Pearce sci-fi flick The Time Machine interested 3.05m (16.2%) until 10.55pm.

BBC Two's lineup of comedy repeats was a reliable winner, starting with 1.6m (7.7%) for a vintage Dad's Army at 8.40pm. A Des Lynam-fronted Have I Got Old News For You drew the channel's largest audience of the day of 2.05m (9.9%), then at 9.40pm, a rerun of Mock The Week appealed to 1.56m (7.9%).

Val Kilmer's turn as the caped crusader in Batman Forever was seen by 1.16m (6.1%) between 6.50pm and 9.10pm on Channel 4, plus 147,000 (0.9%) more on Channel 4+1. Big Brother was the channel's top draw with 2.19m (10.9%) and 230,000 (1.6%) over an hour from 9.10pm, then Bollywood movie Bride & Prejudice had 787,000 (6%) until 12.15am.

Five's lineup of US drama put in solid numbers, topped by CSI with 1.54m (7.6%) from 9.10pm. NCIS gathered 1.22m (6.1%) at 8.10pm and post-CSI, Law & Order: Criminal Intent managed 1.12m (6.9%).

ITV2's The Xtra Factor was easily the biggest multichannel draw, capturing 1.3m (7.5%) at 8.10pm and 109,000 (0.6%) an hour later on timeshift. Later, a screening of The Silence of the Lambs had 329,000 (2.9%) and 64,000 (0.9%) between 10.10pm and 12.25am.

BBC Three's most popular show was the first part of The Most Annoying Couples We Love To Hate. Shown over two and a half hours from 9.10pm, the programme averaged a mighty 536,000 (3.6%). An ensuing Family Guy double-bill had 444,000 (5.2%) and 460,000 (6.8%).

Elsewhere, Setanta Sports 1's live coverage of Newscastle vs Arsenal brought in a respectable 407,000 (3.1%) between 5.15pm and 8pm. ITV3's Taggart repeat interested 493,000 (2.9%) over 90 minutes from 9pm and Film4's George Clooney comedy movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? entertained 301,000 (1.9%) between 9pm and 11.05pm.