ITV1's The X Factor and Downton Abbey dominate Sunday viewing

ITV1 continued to dominate Sunday peak-time viewing thanks to another strong showing for The X Factor and Downton Abbey last night, 17 October. The X Factor's second live Sunday show of 2010 averaged 13.414 million viewers and a 46.7% audience share on ITV1 and ITV1 HD from 8pm. ITV1 HD's share of this audience was 825,000 for a show that saw Storm and Diva Fever voted off . This was the highest-ever audience for an edition of The X Factor at this stage of the series and up from 12.7 million for the equivalent show last year. Downton Abbey bounced back from a ratings dip last Sunday with an average of 8.791 million (32.6%) on ITV1 and ITV1 HD from 9pm. ITV1 HD's share of this audience was 454,000. Last Sunday the costume drama had 8 million (30.8%) . The 9pm competition included the second episode of BBC1's David Tennant drama Single Father, which averaged 4.348 million (16%), with another 234,000 (0.9%) on BBC HD. Last Sunday's first instalment of Single Father had 5.1 million (19.1%). A new series of The Secret Millionaire launched on Channel 4 at 9pm with 1.894 million (7%) and another 295,000 (1.6%) on Channel 4+ 1. Channel 5's terrestrial movie premiere Superbad averaged 1.315 million (6.2%), while BBC2's Dragons' Den: What Happened Next attracted 1.726 million (6.3%). Five main terrestrial analogue networks BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5 (available in all UK homes with TV, except Channel 5, which reaches about 95%) BBC1 7.30pm: Strictly Come Dancing Results – 8.899 million/33.9%, BBC HD 349,000/1.3% BBC2 8pm: Dambusters Declassified – 2.357 million/8.2% ITV1/ITV1 HD 7pm: The Cube – 5.443 million/22% Channel 4 10pm: Desperate Housewives (new series) – 1.554 million/8.5%, C4+1 165,000/1.8% Channel 5 7.05pm: 50 First Dates (film rpt) – 721,000/2.7% Freeview/digital terrestrial TV free-to-air networks Available in 23.4m UK homes – 91.4% of total – as of 31/12/09. Source: Ofcom digital progress report, Q4 2009 ITV2 9pm: The Xtra Factor – 847,000/3.1% 10pm: The Only Way is Essex – 667,000/3.2% More4 11.05pm: Hung – 118,000/1.2% BBC3 10pm: American Dad! – 251,000/1.1% 10.20pm: American Dad! – 352,000/2% Cable and satellite pay-TV networks Available in 12.4m UK homes – 48.2% of total – as of 31/12/09. Source: Ofcom digital progress report, Q4 2009 Sky1 9pm: Thorne: Sleepyhead – 389,000/1.4% 10pm: House – 265,000/1.5% Sky Sports 1 1pm-3.30pm: Live Premier League Football: Everton v Liverpool – 1.454 million/13.8% All ratings are Barb overnight figures, including live and same day timeshifted (recorded) viewing, but excluding on demand, HD, +1 or other – unless otherwise stated • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".