BBC dance contest hits series highs as more than 10 million watch Rachel Riley depart, but ITV show's slide continues
BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing hit new series highs at the weekend as Countdown's Rachel Riley became the latest contestant to depart, but the ratings decline continued for ITV's The X Factor.
Saturday's edition of Strictly Come Dancing averaged 9.98 million viewers, a 43.8% share, between 6.30pm and 8.15pm, with a season high peak of 11.1 million.
Sunday night's results show became the first programme in the new series to average more than 10 million viewers, with 10.12m (38.7%) between 7.20pm and 8pm.
Both shows had the better of ITV's The X Factor, which shed viewers for the second series running despite the revamped judging lineup, with the latest figures suggesting no sign of a let-up.
Saturday's edition of The X Factor drew 7.87 million viewers, a 34.1% share, between 8pm and 9.50pm, down from 8.4 million for the equivalent show last year.
Sunday night's The X Factor results show attracted 8.69 million (33%) between 8pm and 9pm, down from 9.2 million for the same results show last year.
Unlike the Simon Cowell show, Strictly Come Dancing has increased its audience year on year, its Saturday show up from 9.6 million last year, while its Sunday results show was up by nearly a million, from 9.2 million last year.
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