Amelia's 'X Factor' exit draws 10.6m

The X Factor attracted 10.6m viewers and a 40.1% audience share last night as Amelia Lily was eliminated from the competition.

That figure is 3.45m down on last year's show, when Cher Lloyd was voted off.

An additional 328k (1.4%) watched ITV1's two-hour extravaganza on timeshift, and The Xtra Factor managed to summon 465k (2.3%) for ITV2 from 10pm.

Following The X Factor, Piers Morgan's Life Stories lured 4.14m (19.7%) for an interview with Peter Andre, and an additional 280k (22%) caught up an hour later. Earlier on ITV1, This Is Justin Bieber pulled in 2.01m (8.1%).

BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing semi-final was the most-watched programme of the night, entertaining 10.96m (44.2%) from 6.30pm. Merlin took 5.53m (20.9%) at 8.15pm and Casualty hung on to 4.3m (16.2%) at 9pm.

BBC Two's evening was dominated by snooker coverage, which averaged 1.09m (4.2%).

In a poor evening for Channel 4, Tony Robinson's Gods and Monsters snared 620k (2.3%) and a further 115k (0.4%) on timeshift. A screening of Vicky Cristina Barcelona persuaded 470k (2%) to stay with the broadcaster at 9pm. Its timeshift rating was surprisingly strong, nabbing 113k (0.7%).

The 8pm episode ofNCIS had enough intrigue for 706k (2.7%) Channel 5 viewers, and Tommy Cooper's Christmas increased the audience to 1.16m (4.4%) at 9pm.

In a close-run race for the primetime crown, ITV just pipped BBC One with 27.9% to 26.2%. BBC Two trailed with 4.3%, and Channel 5 and Channel 4 earned 3.9% and 2.3% respectively.

BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional