Strictly Come Dancing launch show thrashes X Factor in ratings with 8.1 million viewers

Glitz and glamour beat the singing hopefuls
Success: Strictly stole the show with its rocketing ratings
BBC/PA Wire
Safeeyah Kazi10 September 2018

Strictly Come Dancing trumped Saturday night’s X Factor as it reclaimed its TV throne with over 8.1 million viewers.

The glitzy dance show maintained the massive figure throughout the show, peaking at 8.5 million to make it the most watched programme on any channel on Saturday.

Overnight ratings show the BBC ballroom hit took 40.9 per cent of the overall viewing figures, almost double X Factor’s 24 per cent viewing stake.

The singing competition, which has welcomed an all new panel, peaked at 5.6 million viewers with an average of 4.6 million throughout the night.

Despite falling behind, X Factor was the most watched show of the evening for 16-34 year olds, with over one million of the views coming from that age group.

Series 16 of Strictly kicked off on Saturday evening with this year's famous faces teaming up with a talented professional.

All New: Robbie Williams, Ayda Field and Louis Tomlinson join the panel
Thames/Syco

Last year’s champion Katya Jones, whose husband Neil will not have a celebrity partner for a third year running, is partnered with comedian Seann Walsh while 2017 finalist Aljaz Škorjanec is with journalist and broadcaster Kate Silverton.

Ashley Roberts, who shot to fame in the Pussycat Dolls, will dance with Pasha Kovalev, who will be hoping to win the show for a second time following victory with Caroline Flack in 2014.

Both Roberts and Steps star Faye Tozer, who is paired with Giovanni Pernice, have come under criticism from fans for having “too much dance experience” because of their backgrounds, with Tozer hitting back at critics during this year’s media launch.

This year’s series sees the addition of three new professional dancers - Johannes Radebe, Luba Mushtuk and Graziano Di Prima, with the Italian champ the only one to partner a celebrity in DJ Vick Hope.

Joe Sugg, the first YouTube star to appear on the show, will be in the capable hands of Dianne Buswell, who joined the show last year, while Blue boy Lee Ryan will dance with Nadiya Bychkova.

Stacey Dooley is with Kevin Clifton, Susannah Constantine with Anton du Beke, Katie Piper with Gorka Marquez, Laura Steadman with AJ Pritchard, Charles Venn with Karen Hauer, Dr Ranj Singh with Janette Manrara, Graeme Swann with Oti Mabuse and Danny John Jules with Amy Dowden.

Strictly Come Dancing 2018 - Launch Show - In Pictures

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