Return of the glitterball trounces X Factor

IT has been the biggest entertainment show on TV for more than a decade.

And Strictly Come Dancing once again waltzed to victory on Saturday night – pulling in double the X Factor’s ratings.

The opening episode of the BBC One series drew 8.1million viewers, dwarfing the 4.5million who watched Simon Cowell’s show on ITV. These figures do not include those who tuned in an hour later on ITV+1.

The launch of the programme’s 16th season, which saw celebrities partnered with their professional dancers, won 41 per cent of the audience share. Kate Silverton was the contestant who appeared happiest with her lot, beaming with joy when told Aljaz Skorjanec would be leading her into the competition.

The BBC newsreader, 48, who wore a plunging, sequinned red dress, said she ‘couldn’t be more thrilled’ when the dancer’s name was called out.

Susannah Constantine looked equally gleeful when paired with Anton du Beke. The What Not To Wear presenter told host Tess Daly: ‘I’m so happy I cannot tell you … I wanted someone with an evil sense of humour, and he has it. Bring on the Strictly Curse is all I can say now I’m with Anton.’

Steps singer Faye Tozer was partnered with Giovanni Pernice, and Blue singer Lee Ryan with Nadiya Bychkova.

Judge Craig Revel Horwood said he thought the line-up looked ‘fabulous’.

The celebrities now have two weeks to rehearse for their first live performance when the show, co-hosted by Claudia Winkleman, returns on September 22. The X Factor attracted just 23 per cent of the audience share – although it was the most-watched show among 16- to 34-yearolds, with 39 per cent tuning in.

Its ratings plummeted to just 4.4million – a million lower than for the opening episode the week before.

Strictly Come Dancing and the X Factor did not directly compete against each other on Saturday, but there was a 30-minute period of overlap.

An X Factor spokesman said the programme remained ‘the most popular music TV series on UK television’.