'X Factor' back ahead of 'Strictly' in ratings

The X Factor edged ahead of Strictly Come Dancing in the ratings last night, according to early figures.

Last Saturday Strictly was on top, with 8.59m (40.6%) to its rival's 8.18m (36%). This week the ballroom show improved to 9.22m (39.9%) between 6.45pm and 8pm, but its ITV1 rival improved more still, averaging 9.84m (40.5%) between 7.45pm and 9.15pm.

The X Factor, which begins its live shows next week, also had a higher peak, with a massive 11.03m (45%) watching at 9.05pm. Strictly peaked with 10.03m (42.9%) at 7.40pm.

Earlier, it was good news for BBC One's Merlin as the drama picked up more than 800,000 viewers. Episode three, guest starring Michelle Ryan, brought in an average of 5.76m (28.9%) from 6pm. Once again the audience built steadily over 45 minutes to a peak of 7.34m (34.3%) at 6.45pm. On ITV1 at the same time, Totally You've Been Framed! managed 4.84m (23.7%) for the hour.

All Star Family Fortunes followed on ITV1 with 4.45m (19.2%), then post-X Factor, a Midsomer Murders repeat kept 4.09m (21.4%) until 11.15pm.

National Lottery gameshow Who Dares Wins brought in a reasonable 5.27m (21.6%) to BBC One from 8pm, then at 8.50pm Casualty interested 5.9m (25.3%). A news update had 4.34m (20.9%) at 9.40pm, then a repeat of Little Britain USA amused 3.07m (16.1%).

BBC Two's Timewatch special on tsunamis in Britain drew 1.62m (6.6%) in the 8pm hour, while Channel 4's The Real Knights Of The Round Table: A Time Team Special managed just 0.94m (3.9%). NCIS had 1.07m (4.4%) for Five at 7.45pm, then a second episode brought in 1.38m (5.9%) at 8.40pm.

Michael Aspel's hosting of Have I Got Old News For You delivered 1.59m (6.8%) to BBC Two at 9pm, then Never Mind The Buzzcocks kept 1.12m (5.4%). A Jimmy Carr and Alan Carr pairing in Live At The Apollo followed with 1.59m (8.7%). Channel 4's screening of The Core averaged 1.32m (7%) between 9pm and 11.35pm. On Five, CSI notched up 1.38m (7.1%) and Law & Order: Criminal Intent had 0.89m (6.1%).

Overall during primetime, ITV1 had a share of 28.8% versus BBC One's 26.6%. BBC Two was third, on 6.4%, followed by Channel 4 with 5.7% and Five with 5.2%.

The Xtra Factor was the predictable multichannel winner, improving 300,000 week-on-week to average 1.24m (6.8%) for ITV2 at 9.15pm. Jack Osbourne: Celebrity Adrenaline Junkie followed with 438,000 (2.9%).

BBC Three averaged 350,000 (2.3%) between 9.15pm and 11.45pm for The Most Annoying Pop Moments We Hate To Love.

Ratings data supplied by Attentional