Call them talentless, call them fame-hungry wannabes, but the X Factor contestants are interesting enough to induce 11 million people to switch on their TVs.

The ITV1 talent show began a fourth series on Saturday night, and, it seems, producer Simon Cowell’s formula is yet to loose its magic. The audience peaked at 10.7 million, making it the best-rating opening episode ever.

It pulled in 2.5 million more people than last year’s launch, and even eclipsed the final shows of series one and two. The programme also trounced BBC1 rival DanceX, which averaged 2.7 million compared with X Factor’s average of 9.5 million.

Saturday’s show saw Dannii Minogue make her debut as a judge, joining Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh. The Australian singer, and sister of pop star Kylie, was given something of an initiation by Walsh, who was origianlly dropped to make way for her, before being reinstated. “Originally, I thought Dannii was a very strange choice. She hasn't even had any big records. I did buy her first album but that was such a long time ago it was on vinyl," he quipped.

But Walsh’s jibes couldn't bring Minogue down. The 35-year-old is still elated to have been chosen for the show. “I’ve been the biggest, biggest fan of X Factor. I really can’t believe that I’m here, still,” she said.

Minogue is not the only new addition to the show. Dermot O’Leary has taken over presenting duties from Kate Thorton.

A record 150,000 people applied for the fourth series of the show, which ends at Christmas.

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