The cha cha trumps the la la: X Factor final likely to lose viewers to tonight's Strictly semi as the shows go head-to-head
By Alanah Eriksen
Last updated at 4:46 PM on 11th December 2011
Tonight's X factor final is likely to lose viewers to Strictly Come Dancing's semi final - if last night's figures are anything to go by.
The dancing BBC show attracted an audience of 12.3 million who watched Waterloo Road actress Chelsee Healey and Aussie star Jason Donovan shake their bones to Latin beats to receive the first full 40 points awarded this season.
Over on ITV, X Factor was only able to attract 11.8 million, or 12.1 million including those who watched the episode an hour later on ITV1+1.
Winning the ratings war: 12.3 million viewers preferred to watch Chelsee Healey and partner Pasha Kovalev on Strictly Come Dancing last night compared with 11.8 million who watched the first part of the X Factor final
Viwers watched see Amelia Lily lose out to girl band Little Mix and Liverpudlian Marcus Collins who will compete in tonight's grand finale.
An average of 10.6 million people tuned in for the singing contest (10.9 million including ITV1+1) this year - as opposed to the 11 million who watched Strictly.
Strictly hit a peak 47.5 per cent share of the audience at 7.50pm while X Factor reached 45% at 8.30pm, according to official ratings.
Voted off: Amelia Lily's duet with former Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland wasn't enough to attract the viewers.
A BBC spokesman said: 'We are delighted that so many millions of viewers tuned in to watch our couples dance for a place in next week's grand final, making us once again the most watched show of the evening.'
The battle for audiences will reach its climax tonight as Little Mix and Marcus Collins go head-to-head to become this year's X Factor winner and the finalists for next week's Strictly Come Dancing final in Blackpool will be announced.
The other Strictly contestants are McFly drummer Harry Judd, The One Show presenter Alex Jones and Australian beauty Holly Valance. Five will be whittled down to three tonight.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2072777/X-Factor-final-likely-lose-viewers-Strictly-Come-Dancing.html#ixzz1gGKs9Iuj