X Factor semi-final peaks with 17m

Sunday’s showdown, which eventually saw Irish singer Mary Byrne leave the competition, was watched by an average audience of 14.14m (45.6%) on ITV1 and 932,500 (3.01%) on ITV1 HD over the 8pm hour.

It took the total audience to 15.08m (48.6%), which was not enough to match the results on the 21 November, which were watched by 15.15m (49.99%) viewers.

Sunday’s show included performances from the cast of Glee and the Black Eyed Peas, but peaked with 17.5m (53.34%) as the judges made their decisions at around 8.50pm, according to overnight Barb figures supplied by Attentional. 

While the X Factor has been enjoying massive ratings, Strictly Come Dancing has also been thriving this year. Sunday’s episode eventually saw former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe voted out in front of an average audience of 11.7m (40.1%) on BBC1 and BBC1 HD over the half hour from 7.30pm.

ITV was victorious again at primetime with its journey to find The Nations Favourite Abba Song. The entertainment show was watched by 5.31m (20.3%) from 9pm to 10.30pm, of which 200,100 (0.76%) watched on ITV1 HD. 

BBC1’s Garrrow’s Law was not far behind with 4.82 (17.4%) viewers over the 9pm hour, while World War Two doc Operation Mincemeat performed well, informing 2.77m (10%) viewers on BBC2 in the same slot.

Click here for a Behind the Scenes look at Operation Mincemeat from the director

The penultimate episode of drama Any Human Heart drew 1.26m (4.8%) viewers to Channel 4 from 9pm to 10.30pm. An additional 30,700 (0.2%) watched the William Boyd adaptation on C4+1.  

It was beaten by action film XXX2: The Next Level, enthralling 1.64m (6.8%) on Channel 5 over the two hours from 9pm.