Ratings Winner...

Daily Mirror: X Factor trounces Strictly with its highest-ratings ever at the weekend
By Jody Thompson 19/10/2009

The X Factor managed to score its biggest ever audience at the weekend, it was announced today.

Last night's live finals show, which featured Cheryl Cole and Whitney Houston performing live, drew a peak audience of 14.8 million last night, beating even last year's final.

Half of all TV viewers in the UK were watching the show to see Rickey Loney given the boot.

The whole 75-minute programme was watched by an average of 12.7 million viewers.

Saturday's edition of The X Factor drew an average audience of 10.9 million viewers, 1.6 million more than watched the equivalent episode last year.

On BBC1 on Saturday night meanwhile, Strictly Come Dancing was watched by an average of 7.8 million viewers.