Simon Cowell’s attempt to re-ignite the public’s love for X Factor with a celebrity version backfired this weekend as ratings sank below 4million viewers.
Just 3.9million watched the second outing of the ITV show – down nearly a million on last Saturday’s record-low launch audience of 4.8million.
That in itself was a loss of nearly one million on last year’s opener for the regular version of X Factor , which got 5.7million.
The programme features celebrities including Ricki Lake, Martin Bashir and bands made up of Love Islanders and rugby players.
It was introduced as a potential replacement for X Factor but now Cowell faces the tough choice of deciding which of the failing singing shows he will put forward to ITV for next year.
Over on BBC1, Strictly continued to wipe the floor with its rival by pulling in 9 million viewers and peaking with nearly 10million.
There were no surprises for fans as bottom-ranking David James, 49, became the fourth celebrity to leave the show following his jive with dance partner Nadiya Bychkova.
The former England goalie lost out in the dance-off to BBC Breakfast sports reporter Mike Bushell.
His salsa was deemed to be “as bad” as James’ jive, but Bushell “raised more laughs” with his performance.
