The X Factor hits new heights

ITV1's The X Factor gained its highest ever peak audience on Saturday, attracting a whopping 14.6m viewers.

The main show at 7.10pm was also a record breaker, gaining the shows highest ever average audience of 13.2m viewers (50% share) for 90-minutes.

The programme featured guest performances from Boyzone, Westlife and Beyonce and the 14.6m (54%) peak came at 8.10pm.

The hour-long results show at 9.40pm picked up a similar 13.2m (53%), hitting a high of 14.2m (58%) as Alexandra Burke was named as the winner at 10.25pm.

Saturday's X Factor audience is the most watched entertainment show on any channel since Christmas Day 2003, when BBC1 aired a festive special of Only Fools and Horses. It is the most watched UK TV programme since BBC1's EastEnders on Christmas Day last year.

Over the series, the talent contest gained a sizeable average of 9.9m (42.5%), higher than any of the previous four series and an increase of 1.6m on the previous year when it gained a series average of 8.3m (38%). The series in 2006 averaged 8m (36.2%).

Between the two X Factor shows the commercial network also stole a march on the competition with a hefty 8.1m (38%) tuning in for 60-minute The Girls Aloud Party at 8.40pm.

Under ITV1's definition of peaktime, running from 7pm to 10.30pm, the channel secured a sizeable share of 44.1%. Over the same time period BBC1 had to settle for 21.4%.

Source: BroadcastNow