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The series, hosted by Dermot O'Leary for the first time, trounced BBC One's Saturday evening showpiece 'DanceX', which attracted just 2.7m viewers according to unofficial overnight figures. The opening episode of 'The X Factor' achieved a peak of 10.7m during the show, 48% of the total viewing audience.

This latest series of 'The X Factor' has singer Dannii Minogue joining the judging panel, which includes stalwarts Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne, for the first time.

The series will also once again feature Westlife manager Louis Walsh, who was axed from the programme earlier this year only to be brought back in a U-turn that resulted in his replacement, Brian Friedman, being moved to a behind-the-scenes role as the show's creative director.

The show continues its familiar format, whereby judges each mentor groups of either bands, older singers and young singers for a chance of winning the show. This year, 14-year-olds are allowed to compete for the first time.

The opening shows of the series feature the audition stages where the worst performers often garner as much attention as the genuine contenders. Among the latest woeful acts on Saturday's show was a 79-year-old women impersonating a ukelele through her nose.

This latest series of 'The X Factor' is sponsored by the Carphone Warehouse, which has signed a three-year tie-in with the show, understood to be worth £20m.

Other commercial deals with the show include an on-pack promotional tie in with Pot Noodle, which also features TV advertising to support the offer from September.

BBC One's 'Mountain', in which comedian Griff Rhys Jones undertakes a journey across the peaks of the UK, took the Sunday night ratings crown for the second week in a row.

The series has increased its audience week by week and last night's fourth instalment between 9pm-11pm pulled in 5.3m, the largest number of viewers to date, earning a 22.6% share.

ITV1 scheduled a repeat of 'Lewis', its popular 'Inspector Morse' spin-off starring Kevin Whatley, in the same slot. It was watched by 3.8m viewers and earned an 18.6% share.

Over on Channel 4, 'Big Brother' drew 3.3m viewers and a 14.3% share between 9pm-10pm.

On Friday, eviction night on 'Big Brother' pushed its audience above 4m viewers for the first time in weeks. The 8.30-pm9.30pm instalment attracted 4.1m viewers and a 19.5% share.

The second instalment at 10.00pm-10.30pm was watched by 3.9m viewers and a 19.6% share. In between episodes of 'Big Brother', Channel 4's popular comedy series 'Star Stories' continues to be a ratings success for the return of its second series.

The fourth episode of the current run, which profiled the rise and fall of pop star Britney Spears, pulled in 3m viewers and a 14.4% share.