Strictly Come Dancing vs X Factor 2015: BBC comes out on top in first ratings battle

The annual ratings battle between Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor has begun as the first episode of Strictly aired on Saturday.

Despite Simon Cowell’s boasts that X Factor would emerge victorious (“If it’s us versus Peter Andre, I’m going to put my money on us,” he said), Strictly has come out on top in its first week.

The ballroom dance competition began at 7.15pm on BBC One, with an episode that saw the celebrities paired up with their professional dancers. The show was watched by an average of 8.69 million viewers.

Cowell’s talent show aired at 8.15pm, 20 minutes before Strictly had finished, and pulled in an average of 7.13 million viewers.