X Factor Saturday ratings reach record low for final

The first part of the X Factor final at Wembley Arena on ITV drew its lowest audience since its launch year in 2004 on Saturday night.

The ITV talent show managed to pull an average audience of 8.5 million, that includes viewers catching up on ITV+1.

That's down a million on the final Saturday last year.

Sam Bailey and and Nicholas McDonald made it through to the last two after Luke Friend received the fewest public votes.

Judge Nicole Sherzinger dueted with former prison guard Sam Bailey while ex-Westlife singer Shane Filan sang with 17-year-old Nicholas McDonald.

The show, which is in its 10th series, also trailed behind its rival Strictly Come Dancing, which is in its semi-final stage on BBC One.

The latest X Factor ratings are the lowest since the first final in 2004 when 8.1 million people watched Steve Brookstein win the series.

In 2010, 14.1 million viewers tuned in to see Matt Cardle named winner.

The latest figures follow a recent deal signed by ITV and the show's boss Simon Cowell, which will keep the show on air for another three years.

At its peak, Strictly Come Dancing pulled in 9.9 million viewers, which was 43% of people watching television at that time.

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