The Planet Earth 2 finale beat The X Factor finale by 1.5 million viewers

They were show on BBC One and ITV1 at the same time

In a victory for nature and science over smoke machines and covers of ‘Purple Rain’ the final episode of Planet Earth II has attracted more viewers than the final episode of The X Factor. The two shows occupied the same time slot.

Seven million tuned in to watch Matt Terry become the latest victor bound to sell out mid-sized venues in provincial UK towns for 3 - 5 years, but 8.5 million watched Sir David Attenborough explore the impact of urban development on the natural world.

Planet Earth II has attracted consistently large audiences, particularly enthralling the demographic The X Factor usually owns.

“I’m told that we are attracting a larger than normal number of younger viewers and apparently the music of Hans Zimmer in particular is striking a chord,” Attenborough recently told the Radio Times. “That pleases me enormously.”

Tempting though it is to gloat, a reality show unfortunately was the winner of the evening as whole, with Strictly Come Dancing bringing in 11 million viewers between 7.15pm and 8pm.