'X Factor' maintains ratings lead

The X Factor kept hold of its lead in the Saturday night ratings battle at the weekend, despite Strictly Come Dancing hitting a new audience high.

This week's performances show - based on a 'Best of British' theme - notched up 10.58m (43.5%) between 7.20pm and 8.35pm, peaking with a mighty 11.78m (48.2%) at 8.10pm. The later results show, in which Daniel Evans was voted off, drew an average of 9.54m (42.9%) between 9.35pm and 10.20pm. The figure is up more than a million viewers week-on-week.

Strictly had an impressive 9.69m (42.4%) average between 6.05pm and 7.20pm, setting a new high for the series. The audience grew throughout its duration to a peak of 10.86m (44.3%) at 7.10pm.

Following Strictly at 7.20pm, Merlin was up 400k week-on-week, drawing an impressive 5.91m (24.4%) against The X Factor. The National Lottery draw was seen by 4.22m (17.3%), then Casualty brought in 5.3m (22.1%). A new series of comedy Outnumbered drew 3.73m (16.3%) from 9.05pm.

Surrounding The X Factor, ITV1 aired We Are Most Amused, an all-star celebration of the Prince of Wales's 60th birthday. The first part drew a strong 7.43m (31.8%) between 8.35pm and 9.35pm, then 6.01m (30.7%) returned post-X Factor.

Earlier, New You've Been Framed drew 4.58m (20.1%) at 6.20pm and Harry Hill's TV Burp amused 5.45m (22.7%).

ITV1 had an average primetime share of 36.5% (last week: 32.5%) to BBC One's 22.3% (25.3%).

BBC Two's landmark documentary The Fallen, listing all of the British troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, went largely unnoticed. Over its three hours from 9.05pm, the piece managed 750k (4.4%). Earlier, repeats of Coast and Stephen Fry In America brought in 1.61m (6.6%) and 1.76m (7.4%) respectively.

On Channel 4, The Lost World War One Bunker: A Time Team Special interested 1.02m (4.2%) between 7.05pm and 8.30pm, then a screening of The Transporter 2 attracted 1.72m (7.9%). The Omen kept up 940k (8.7%) until 12.50am.

Five's NCIS double-bill brought in 791k (3.3%) and 1.12m (4.7%), then CSI put in 1.42m (6.2%) at 9.05pm. Law & Order: Criminal Intent followed with 1.02m (5.2%).

Channel 4 had an average primetime share of 5.5% (last week: 4%), followed by BBC Two on 5.4% (7.1%) and Five on 4.7% (4.6%).

ITV2's The Xtra Factor climbed back above the 1 million mark, averaging 1.03m (5%) over an hour from 8.35pm. A later post-results show interested 705k (4.2%).

Ratings data supplied by Attentional