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Strictly no competition! BBC dance show waltzes its way through ratings war after pulling in ONE MILLION more viewers than rival X Factor

By Kayleigh Giles and Emily Hewett For Mailonline

Published: 07:37 EST, 6 September 2015 | Updated: 08:21 EST, 6 September 2015

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Simon Cowell was confident The X Factor would destroy Strictly Come Dancing in the ratings war this year.

But the music mogul was left eating his words as it emerged the ballroom dancing show came out on top when the longterm rivals went head-to-head for the first time on Saturday night.

The Strictly launch, which overlapped The X Factor by 20 minutes, managed to claw in a whopping one million more viewers than its ITV rival, it was revealed on Sunday.

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Ouch! Simon Cowell was confident The X Factor would destroy Strictly Come Dancing in the ratings war this year but was left eating his words as it emerged the ballroom dancing show came out on top on Saturday night

Strictly was watched by an average of 8.69 million, even topping last year's opening figure of 8.43 million, while the ITV1 juggernaut raked in a disappointing 7.13 million viewers, with a further 389,000 tuning in on +1.

At 8.15pm, when the two shows briefly overlapped, Strictly enjoyed an audience of 9.04 million compared to The X Factor's 5.44 million.

The news will come as a crushing blow to Cowell, who boasted that this year's series of The X Factor is the best yet.

But despite a judges shake-up, new hosts and mixing up the format yet again, the show has once again failed to draw in the viewing numbers of its hey-day.

Killing it: The Strictly launch show, which overlapped The X Factor by 20 minutes, managed to claw in a whopping one million more viewers than its ITV rival, it was revealed on Sunday

Meet your partners: The launch saw the contestants meet their professional partners for the first time. Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote was coupled up with Sicilian newcomer Giovanni Pernice

Last week's premiere recorded the lowest debut viewing figures since the second series of the show in 2005, shedding well over one million viewers from the 2014 launch.

Speaking ahead of last week's launch show, Cowell claimed that the current series would easily beat Strictly in the ratings war after the BBC announced a less-than-impressive celebrity line-up.

'I'd hate to say yes, because I know what will happen if I say yes - it will come back and haunt me,' he said.

'This show does feel better, the talent's great, they're interesting, so if it's us versus [Strictly contestant] Peter Andre, I'm going to put my money on us.'

Saturday night's episode of Strictly saw the celebrity contestants finally paired up with their professional dance partners.

Former Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote kicked off the proceedings after it was announced she will be moving and shaking alongside Sicilian newcomer Giovanni Pernice.

Dressed in a sparkling green mini dress the 24-year-old seemed pleased with her partner, though not half as pleased as Giovanni appeared, as he leaped into the air after their partnership was declared.

Show off! Peter Andre was partnered with Janette Manrara, with the singer showcasing his moves before the contest had even begun

And it looked as though the two are already getting on like a house on fire, as a snippet of their dance rehearsals later in the show revealed that the duo have already dubbed themselves, 'The two Gs.'

Cavorting and laughing together, show hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly couldn't resist commenting on their remarkable chemistry.

Before the announcement, Giovanni revealed that he is quite the ladies man, and insisted that women fall weak when they see his striking blue eyes.

Chuffed: Christian singer Daniel O'Donnell was paired with Kristina Rihanoff, amid claims she asked to be partnered with him to end the Strictly 'curse' that has seen her romance some of the former contestants

Elsewhere, Peter Andre was partnered with Janette Manrara, with the two sharing a warm embrace following the announcement.

The Wanted singer Jay McGuiness was teamed with Russian-Kazakhstani professional dancer Aliona Vilani, though looked slightly nervous at the thought.

‘At the minute I’m a total bag of nerves but I’m going to take it one dance step at a time,' the curly-haired star said in his VT before moments before he was introduced to his partner.

Glad he came! The Wanted singer Jay McGuiness was teamed with Russian-Kazakhstani professional dancer Aliona Vilani, though looked slightly nervous at the thought

Christian singer Daniel O'Donnell was paired with Kristina Rihanoff, amid claims she asked to be partnered with him to end the dreaded Strictly 'curse'.

TV chef Ainsley Harriott will dance with Natalie Lowe, who he described as 'absolutely brilliant'.

Olympic sprinter Iwan Thomas will strut his stuff with Ola Jordan, and seemed overwhelmed by the news as he lifted the petite blonde into the air and swung her around his back.

Journalist Jeremy Vine was teamed with Karen Hauer.

Long way from Walford! EastEnders star Kellie Bright was coupled with Kevin Clifton, with each giving a delighted cheer at the reveal

'So pleased. You’re amazing. Thank you so much,' he gushed.

‘I’ve seen her moves. She’s not the best in the UK, she’s the best in the world.’

Feisty Loose Women star Jamelia will dance alongside Irish dancer Tristan MacManus, and appeared delighted after making it abundantly clear to Claudia that she knew exactly who she did, and did not, want to be teamed with.

Call The Midwife star Helen George - who is a huge fan of judge Darcy Bussell - will put her best foot forward with Aljaz Skorjanec.

Happy chappy: Anthony Ogogo seened only more than happy to hear that he would be dancing with series newcomer Otlile Mabuse

'I'm so surprised. I thought I was getting Anton,' she quipped following the announcement.

Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher will learn dancing steps from show favourite Brendan Cole, while boxer Anthony Ogogo was teamed with series newcomer Otlile Mabuse.

Weather presenter Carol Kirkwood was matched with Pasha Kovalev, who won last year's show with partner Caroline Flack.

Winning team? BBC proms presenter Katie Derham will dance with Strictly original Anton du Beke, who complimented the star's moves during previous rehearsal

Dressed to impress: Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman made a glamorous return in floor-length gowns

Anita Rani looked to get a little hot under the collar when she found out she would be capering with hunky - and extremely confident - newcomer Gleb Savchenko.

EastEnders star Kellie Bright was coupled with Kevin Clifton, with each giving a delighted cheer at the reveal, while BBC proms presenter Katie Derham will dance with Strictly original Anton du Beke.

Saturday night's debut opened with the professional dancers performing a show-stopping routine to Jennifer Lopez's Let's Get Loud combined with Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk.

Overjoyed: ‘I’ve seen her moves. She’s not the best in the UK, she’s the best in the world,' Jeremy Vine said of his pairing with Karen Hauer

Heating up: Anita Rani looked to get a little hot under the collar when she found out she would be capering with hunky - and extremely confident - newcomer Gleb Savchenko

Careful! Olympic sprinter Iwan Thomas will strut his stuff with Ola Jordan, and seemed overwhelmed by the news as he lifted the petite blonde into the air swung her around his back

The dance also saw judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood and Darcy get involved, before they received formal introductions from glamorously-clad co-hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman just moments after.

After announcing twelve pairings from this year's show, the dance competition's reigning champion Caroline Flack hit the dance floor to perform her winning routine, before offering her successors some words of advice.

But perhaps the most memorable dance of the evening was that carried out by this year's contestants and their professional partners as they delivered a routine to Jess Glynne's Hold My Hand.

She's back! The dance competition's reigning champion Caroline Flack hit the dance floor to perform her winning routine, before offering her successors some words of advice

Big opener: Saturday night's show opened with the show's professional dancers performing a show-stopping routine to Jennifer Lopez's Let's Get Loud combined with Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk