Fall in X Factor ratings continues

The X Factor's ratings plunge is continuing with a new low for this series - and almost three million down on this stage last year.

Saturday night's hour-long ITV1 show - the fourth of the latest series - drew an average of 8.2 million viewers, including those watching on the catch-up +1 channel.

However, by this stage in the competition last year, the show was pulling in an average 11.1 million viewers, which peaked at 12.5 million. Saturday's peak was almost also down hugely by 3.1 million.

The latest edition was also down 400,000 on the previous programme a week earlier, making it the lowest-viewed show of the 2012 series.

It was also 2.5 million down on the fourth programme of the 2010 series, suggesting interest in Simon Cowell's talent show has waned considerably this year.

There have been criticisms about the low proportion of music screened during the series compared to the length of the show.

However, ITV pointed out that the latest edition was the highest rating show on British TV on Saturday night.

It said ITV1 was the highest rating channel in peak-time with an average 4.8 million viewers. However, the equivalent Saturday in 2011 saw the station with a peaktime average of 6.3 million.