Viewing figures: Doctor Who beats X Factor as more than 10 million tune in for 50th anniversary special
Doctor Who won the ratings war last night after more than 10 million viewers tuned in to BBC One to watch its special 50th anniversary episode, comfortably beating ITV's X Factor.
The Day of the Doctor, featuring the return of former Time Lord David Tennant alongside incumbent Matt Smith, commanded an average 10.18 million viewers according to the overnight TV ratings, compared to 7.67 million for the X Factor, which was marking its own tenth anniversary.
Neither programme, however, can take the crown of most watched show of the night. That honour went to Strictly Come Dancing which claimed an average audience of 10.56 million on BBC One.
Although a more accurate picture of the viewing figures will emerge over the coming days, the numbers will undoubtedly be heralded as a triumph by the BBC and Doctor Who's producers. They represent the show's best ratings performance since Matt Smith took up the lead role in the Christmas special of 2010, which was watched by 10.3 million.
Who's numbers are particularly impressive given that they do not take into account those watching on iPlayer or in cinemas and the considerable numbers tuning in from outside the UK.
Before its airing the BBC has billed the programme as the "largest simulcast of a TV drama in history". It was screened in 1,500 cinemas worldwide and shown on television in 94 countries, including the US, Brazil and Ethiopia.
In the UK alone last night's episode was broadcast in 400 cinemas, putting it closer to a Hollywood blockbuster than a television show.
And as The Drum reported last night, the show was also a hit on social media, pulling in 443,000 related tweets during its 75-minute broadcast.