'The X Factor' semi-final storms past 15m

The X Factor semi-final soared past 15 million viewers on Sunday evening as ITV dominated primetime, the latest audience data has revealed.

The show, which saw Mary Byrne miss out on reaching next weekend's grand final, averaged 15.1m (48.6%) for ITV1 in the 8pm hour, peaking at a colossal 16.8m (52%) for the last 15 minutes.

After The X Factor, The Nation's Favourite Abba Song appealed to 5.51m (21.1%) on ITV1 from 9pm, beating Garrow's Law with 4.82m (17.4%) on BBC One.

Earlier, All Star Family Fortunes entertained 4.93m (17.5%) on ITV1 from 7.15pm, but faced tough competition from Strictly Come Dancing, as Anne Widdecombe's elimination from the show was watched by 11.7m (40.1%) on BBC One from 7.30pm.

Elsewhere on BBC One, Countryfile brought in 7.55m (29.6%) from 6.30pm and Antiques Roadshow managed 6.26m (20.2%) in the 8pm hour.

On BBC Two, a repeat of Dad's Army amused 1.66m (6.2%) between 6.30pm and 8pm, before Jeremy Clarkson: Greatest Raid of All Time had 1.41m (4.5%). Operation Mincemeat, a documentary on one of the greatest hoaxes of World War II, brought in 2.77m (10%) in the 9pm hour. A repeat of The Trip took 740k (3.2%) from 10pm, and then Match Of The Day 2 had 1.95m (12.9%).

Over at Channel 4, Undercover Boss USA commanded 560k (1.8%) in the 8pm hour and 138k (0.5%) on timeshift. It was followed by Any Human Heart, which entertained 1.26m (4.8%) and 31k (0.2%) on +1. Desperate Housewives then had 690k (4.6%) and 92k (1.2%) an hour later.

Screenings of XXX2: The Next Level and The Art Of War attracted respective audiences of 1.64m (6.8%) and 487k (6.5%) to Channel 5 from 6pm.

Overall, ITV1 won primetime with 27.4% against BBC One's 22.9%. BBC Two came in third with 7%, followed by Channel 5 with 5.3% and Channel 4 with 4.5% (+1: 0.9%).

Elsewhere, The Xtra Factor gained a massive 1.82m (6.6%) on ITV2 from 9pm and 117k (0.6%) on timeshift. It was followed by Kerry Katona: Coming Clean, which had 1.03m (5.7%) and 215k (2.3%) an hour later.

BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional