BBC1 fantasy drama attracts nearly 6 million viewers, helped by following Strictly Come Dancing, as ITV show draws 7.8 million
BBC1's new fantasy drama Atlantis launched with nearly 6 million viewers on Saturday, taking a 1 million bite out of ITV's The X Factor.
Atlantis, starring Jack Donnelly, Mark Addy and Sarah Parish, began with 5.8 million viewers, a 26.2% share of the audience, between 8.25pm and 9.15pm on Saturday.
It lost out to The X Factor, which attracted 7.8 million (35.7%) between 8.20pm and 9.50pm but put a dent in the ratings for Simon Cowell's show, which was down from 8.8 million (39.9%) for last Saturday's outing.
Atlantis was also given a boost by inheriting a big audience from Strictly Come Dancing. The first weekend of its main run, Strictly Come Dancing drew 9.2 million viewers (44%) between 7pm and 8.25pm.
But there was still a big switchover when Strictly finished, with BBC1's audience dipping from 9.1 million to 5.8 million. As the dance show came to an end, The X Factor's audience grew from 5.3 million to 7.8 million.
Atlantis could not quite magic up the 6.6 million (30%) audience who watched the first episode of its earlier Saturday night fantasy drama aimed at a family audience, Merlin, when it began on 20 September 2008.
Merlin's final series began in early October last year with 6 million viewers and a 26% share, in a 7.45pm slot also against The X Factor.
Tuning out
Up against BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing, ITV's Davina McCall dance show Stepping Out came to end of its five-part run with just 2.3 million viewers, a 10.8% share between 7.20pm and 8.20pm.
Later, the penultimate outing for ITV's rebooted Through the Keyhole drew 3.4 million viewers (18.5%) between 9.50pm and 10.50pm. BBC1's Casualty was watched by 4 million viewers (19.7%) between 9.25pm and 10.15pm.
All ratings are Barb overnight figures, including live, +1 (except for BBC channels) and same day timeshifted (recorded) viewing, but excluding on demand, or other – unless otherwise stated. Figures for BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 generally include ratings for their HD simulcast services, unless otherwise stated
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