Blue Planet II beats Strictly Come Dancing in weekend TV ratings battle

Victorious: David Attenborough's Blue Planet documentary beat both Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor in the ratings
BBC

The first episode of Sir David Attenborough’s second series of Blue Planet waltzed all over Strictly Coming Dancing in last night’s ratings by pulling in on average over half a million more viewers.

The BBC One series, screened some 16 years after the original, aired at 8pm, directly after Strictly, and was watched by an average of 10.3 million people, according to the BBC.

Blue Planet II’s peak audience figure was 10.6 million, figures from the corporation show.

Last night’s spooky-themed results instalment of Strictly attracted an average audience of 9.6 million and was watched by a peak of 10.4 million viewers, the BBC says.

The lower figures in comparison to Blue Planet II could be explained by the episode being a results programme, as Saturday night's live results shows tend to perform better among viewers.

Over on ITV, The X Factor’s second live show last night was watched by an average of 4.6 million viewers with a peak of 5.5 million, the broadcaster said.

The Attenborough documentary proved a hit among those who tuned in, with fans praising its 'incredible' camera work on social media.

Blue Planet II - In pictures

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One viewer wrote: I would recommend watching Blue Planet 2. Absolutely incredible!!!!! Credit to the camera men and women!! [sic]" while another tweeted: "Blue Planet or anything with David Attenborough is worth the licence fee alone."

Sunday's instalment of the nature programme featured world-first footage of giant trevally fish leaping from the water to catch birds in their mouths.

According to BBC Natural History Unit producer Miles Barton, the feeding phenomenon had previously been 'a fisherman's tale'.

"It started as a fisherman’s tale – this 40kg pugnacious bulldog of a fish that would leap out of the water and grab sooty terns in mid air. There was no hard evidence – no stills photography or video," he told Radio Times.

Blue Planet II continues Sunday, November 5 at 8pm on BBC One.

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