The X Factor: record 11m tune in to launch

The X Factor returned with a record audience of more than 11 million viewers for its first audition show on Saturday, 21 August. Saturday's launch show averaged 11.089 million viewers between 7.30pm and 9pm on ITV1 and ITV1 HD, a 47.8% share of the audience, peaking with 11.949 million viewers between 8pm and 8.15pm. ITV1 HD's share of this audience was 483,000. Simon Cowell's talent show eclipsed the average of 9.9 million (48%) who watched last year's sixth series, and the previous high of 10.2 million (also a 48% share) who watched the fifth series opener in 2008. The X Factor begin in 2004 with an average of 4.9 million viewers and a 26% share. The talent show swept all before it, including the penultimate episode of BBC1's Tonight's The Night, which drew 3.291 million viewers and a 15.8% share between 7.10pm and 8pm. Five main terrestrial analogue networks BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel Five (available in all UK homes with TV, except Channel 5, which reaches about 95%) BBC1 8.10pm: Casualty - 3.844 million/16% BBC2 6.40pm: BBC Proms 2010 - 691,000/3.3%, BBC HD 14,000/0.1% ITV1/ITV1 HD 9pm: Magic Numbers - 3.248 million/15.2% Channel 4 9pm: Big Brother - 1.882 million/8.8%,C4+1 - 216,000/1.2% Channel 5 9pm: CSI (rpt) - 1.531 million/7.1% 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 (new series) - 1.483 million/6.9% 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".