X Factor's live debut sees significant ratings drop on last year despite innovations in this series such as the 'flash vote'
The X Factor has lost more than a million viewers in a year, according to the latest figures.
The show, which began its live stage on Saturday with Gary Barlow announcing he was to step down, is 1.1 million viewers down compared to the equivalent show in 2012.
It was some way behind BBC1 rival Strictly Come Dancing which increased its lead with 1.7 million more viewers.
The X Factor's live debut - after weeks of pre-recorded stages - pulled in an average of 8.1 million viewers on ITV on Saturday night (including viewers of the +1 catch-up channel). The audience peaked at 9.5 million.
But at the equivalent stage last year the figure was 9.2 million, making it the highest viewed programme of the night, with a peak of 10.3 million.
Strictly has been romping ahead this year and last night it had its highest audience of the series with 9.8 million viewers as Natalie Gumede topped the leader board. The show had a peak of 10.9 million.
The slip in X Factor figures comes despite innovations in the show to boost interest in the programme, including the "flash vote" which was used for the first time last night. And the further drop comes after a big audience slump last year.