'X Factor' finale peaks with 14.6 million

A peak of 14.6 million viewers tuned in to see Alexandra Burke win The X Factor last night, according to early ratings figures.

Overall, the final results show had a massive 13.46m (54.4%) from 9.40pm - The X Factor's best ratings in its five-year history. The peak of 14.59m, and an incredible 61.4% audience share, came at 10.40pm.

The 2007 finale managed a peak of 12.74m (55.1%).

Earlier, the final performances show averaged 13.2m (50.3%) over 90 minutes from 7.10pm. It peaked with 14.61m (54.4%) at 8.10pm.

Sandwiched between the two shows, The Girls Aloud Party - featuring performances and sketches from Cheryl Cole's band - had 8.37m (32.3%).

ITV2's The Xtra Factor pulled in 1.51m (9.8%) from 10.40pm, while the earlier pre-results show had 743k (3.2%).

On BBC One, Strictly Come Dancing's semi-final performances show, which started at 6.10pm and finished just before The X Factor began, drew 9.9m (41.2%). The figure was up around 700k week-on-week.

The shock results show, shifted from its Sunday night slot to air live at 8.55pm, managed 7.32m (28.3%) over 45 minutes.

The final episode of fantasy drama Merlin, which overlapped with the first 45 minutes of The X Factor, had an admirable 5.76m (22.2%). Casualty, shown at 8.05pm, put in 4.96m (18.7%).

Pre-X Factor, You've Been Framed! and Harry Hill's TV Burp brought in 4.7m (20.3%) and 5.85m (23.5%) respectively. BBC One's Hole in the Wall appealed to 4.61m (23.3%).

ITV1's overall primetime (7pm-11pm) share was up to 44.6%, from 30.3% last week, while BBC One fell from 23.4% to 20.7%.

BBC Two's broadcast of an old Dad's Army episode in colour for the first time delivered an impressive 3.12m (11.8%) at 8.30pm. A preceding documentary, Missing Presumed Wiped, had 2.27m (8.6%), and an episode of Comedy Connections averaged 2.12m (8.2%) from 9pm.

Five's lineup of US drama remained fairly intact in the ratings despite the increased commercial competition. A double-bill of NCIS drew 956k (3.7%) and 1.04m (3.9%), then back-to-back CSI: New York had 1.28m (5%) and 975k (4.1%).

A River Cottage Christmas Feast was Channel 4's top programme of the night, with 1.12m (4.2%) in the 8pm hour. The audience then dropped to a disastrous 350k (1.4%) for a repeat of the final episode of The Devil's Whore.

BBC Two's overall share was 8%, up from 7.1%, while Five averaged 4.2%, down from 5.5%. Channel 4 slipped from 3.7% to an embarrassing 2.3%.

Ratings data supplied by Attentional