The Syco talent show reported an average audience of 9.9 million on Saturday, up from 9.59 million in the previous week when Strictly won the ratings battle.

X Factor peaked with 11 million viewers, meaning it beat Strictly in both average and peak audience. Strictly had an average of 9.1 million with a peak of 10.5 million, according to the BBC.

Meanwhile, previous X Factor acts One Direction (third in 2010) and JLS (runner up 2008) have been drafted in ...