X Factor return points to biggest series yet for ITV1

ITV1's singing contest The X Factor was back with a bang last week with a higher audience than any edition for the past two years, excluding both the previous series' finals.

The hour-long show at 7.30pm on Saturday (16 August) averaged a heavyweight 10.2 million/48.2% as Cheryl Cole made her debut as a judge. The Talkback Thames/Syco TV production was up by 700,000 on the equivalent show last year when 9.5 million/44.9% tuned in.

The previous highest audience for a non-final was on 24 September 2005, when 9.7 million/47.9% tuned in at 7.05pm.

Only the final show broke the 10 million mark last year with 11.7 million/49.9% watching the results show at 9.35pm on 15 December. Over 27 shows, the series averaged 8.3 million/38% from 18 August.

Saturday's audience con-solidates the show's position as one of the nation's favourites. So far this year only four other shows have broken the 10 million mark. ITV1 has managed three shows while BBC1's EastEnders on 24 March attracted 11.4 million/42.5% in an 8pm slot.