Paralympic clash causes X Factor to loses 3m viewers
Viewing figures fall from 2011 numbers
- X Factor is born: Taking the Pop Idol idea and giving it a radical overhaul (well, letting old people get involved), Simon Cowell premiered X Factor on ITV in 2004. Cowell was joined by jolly Louis Walsh and mad old bat Sharon Osborne. The show included a blind entrant and the winner, Steve Brookstein, disappeared after one hit single. No one gave it second though, it was just a bit of telly after all.
by David Renshaw | Photos by WENN.com
Tags: X Factor
The X Factor saw its ratings slide once more as year on year stats show that nearly three million less people are tuning into the 2012 series than the previous year.
It is likely that the fall off in numbers is down to the Paralympics being broadcast on C4, with millions of Britons tuning in to see Team GB collect their biggest medal haul in history. Additionally, the episode of The X Factor which aired on Sunday (Sept 9) clashed with coverage of the closing ceremony.
The Saturday (Sept 8) ratings of The X Factor averaged 7.7m (33.9%) from 8.10pm and added 512k (2.4%) on ITV1 +1. The same week in 2011 saw 2.9m more viewers tuning into the show.
Whilst the Paralympic clash may explain some of the viewer losses, this year has seen an increasing number of complaints from fans including a lack of actual singing on the show as well as controverisal format changes.
Viewers tuning in this weekend saw annoying Russell Brand wannabe Eddie String impress judges as well as Essex teenager Amy Mottram blow everyone away with her version of Adele's 'One and Only'.
X Factor: from the early days to a bubble ready to burst
