Strictly Come Dancing trounces X Factor again in ratings battle

Simon Cowell’s talent competition has been lagging behind BBC’s celebrity dancing show this year

Jake Wood and Janette Manrara during the live show of Strictly Come Dancing (PA)

Strictly Come Dancing has beaten X Factor again in the Saturday night ratings, taking nearly 40 per cent of the audience with 8.65 million viewers.

This year’s first X Factor live show fell behind with 7.66 million people tuning in to watch yesterday the final 12 hopefuls plus four wild cards try to impress the judges.

Last night was Movie Week on Strictly and featured the couples dancing along to songs from films and the results will be announced tonight.

This is the not the first time that the BBC’s celebrity ballroom dancing show, X Factor has been consistently losing out since Strictly Come Dancing returned three weeks ago.

The Strictly launch show at the start of September announcing the couples also beat Simon Cowell’s singing contest.

Tonight X Factor will be announcing the results of yesterday’s show with a double elimination that will see two contestants sent home. The show will also feature performances from Pharrell Williams and Taylor Swift.

Meanwhile Doctor Who came third in the ratings with 5.08millilion watching the Time Lord take on a Mummy aboard the galactic Orient Express. The adventure featured guest appearances from British pop singer Foxes and comedian Frank Skinner.