Sunday’s X Factor attracted the show’s lowest viewing figures yet for a series final.
Seven million viewers (a 20% share) watched as Matt Terry was crowned winner of this year’s ITV show.
It was a drop of 1.4 million from 2015, when 8.4 million watched, despite a major overhaul by Simon Cowell.
Matt Terry (Ian West/PA)
This year’s final peaked at 8.3 million viewers, compared to 9.9 million last year.
The ratings low comes after ITV signed a three-year deal for The X Factor, meaning the talent show will remain on screen until at least 2019.
The 2014 final – won by Louisa Johnson – had an average audience of 9.1 million viewers and peaked at around 10.5 million viewers.
Louisa Johnson (Joel Ryan/AP/PA)
Meanwhile, Strictly Come Dancing continued to beat the opposition.
The results show on BBC1 – in which Claudia Fragapane made her exit – was seen by a peak of 12.1 million viewers with an average of 11 million (43.7 share), making it the most watched show on TV.
The first instalment of The X Factor, in 2004, had 8.1 million viewers for its results show but the series went on to enjoy viewing figures of 17.2 million in 2010 when Matt Cardle was declared winner.
Steve Brookstein, the first winner, who has been embroiled in a public feud with Simon, revelled in the bad news for the show.
X Factor ratings are at an all time low. #mondaymotivation
— Steve Brookstein (@stevebrookstein) December 12, 2016
The X Factor Final, which featured a performance from Kylie Minogue, was the most watched programme of the night for 16 to 34-year-olds, with a 37% share of the age group.
