ITV and Simon Cowell talent show, won by Sam Bailey, watched by average of 9.6 million viewers on Sunday night
An average of almost 10 million viewers tuned in to watch Sam Bailey win the final of The X Factor on Sunday, the lowest audience for a series finale since Shayne Ward triumphed in 2005.
Simon Cowell's ITV show averaged 9.6 million, a 37% share, between 7.30pm and 9.30pm.
The ratings for the show, which had a five-minute peak of 11.9 million, was the lowest since 9.2 million tuned in for the 2005 final.
Last year, an average of 11.1 million viewers watched James Arthur win.
The X Factor just managed to pip the semi-final of BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing, with Sunday night's results show, which saw Patrick Robinson knocked out, managing an average of 9.6 million viewers between 7pm and 7.40pm.
The first leg of The X Factor final on Saturday night, which saw Luke Friend knocked out, drew an average of 8.4 million viewers, the lowest since its launch in 2004.
Strictly Come Dancing's Saturday night show managed an average of 9.9 million viewers, a 43% share between 6.40pm and 8.20pm.
Andy Murray keeps them waiting
BBC1's Sports Personality of the Year managed an average of 5.6 million viewers, as overwhelming favourite Andy Murray triumphed.
The programme, which took a 21.7% share between 7.40pm and 10pm on Sunday night, had a five-minute peak audience of 8.4 million.
The Wimbledon and London Olympic champion, who kept audiences waiting for a video interview while training in Miami because he was "in the shower", couldn't compare to last year's winner Bradley Wiggins.
The Olympic and Tour de France winner drew an average of 10.6 million viewers – and a peak of 14.5 million – the biggest for the Sports Personality of the Year show since 1992.
Homeland shows its ratings tradecraft
Homeland clung on to its audience, despite being up against The X Factor final and SPOTY.
The penultimate episode of the Channel 4 drama import's third series averaged 1.8 million and a 7% share – the same audience and a slightly bigger share than the previous Sunday.
Channel 4's most watched programme of the day was Christmas film repeat Fred Claus, averaging 2 million viewers and a 9.6% share from 5.20pm.
Over on Channel 5, another festive movie repeat also provided the network's top rating show on Sunday, with a 3.40pm airing of The Polar Express averaging 2.2 million viewers and a 13.8% share.
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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