The weekend’s rating race between The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing threw up such a close result that both sides are claiming victory.

The Strictly Come Dancing launch show on Saturday attracted 7.5 million viewers – the same number as rival reality programme The X Factor.

On Sunday evening the two shows again competed for viewers, with The X Factor edging ahead with 7.5 million viewers compared to Strictly Come Dancing’s 7.4 million.

However the BBC One celebrity dance programme insists it beat The X Factor, arguing that the two show’s time slots were slightly different and that when they were head-to-head Strictly Come Dancing out-rated Simon Cowell’s ITV 1 talent show.

Former Coronation Street actor Brian Capron was the first contestant to be eliminated from the new season of Strictly Come Dancing, after viewers voted his waltz the worst, along with former rugby player Kenny Logan. The two then performed for the judges, who decided Capron didn’t make the grade.

Giving Capron a score of five out of ten, judge Bruno Tonioli said: "For me it was a waltz from six feet under. It lacked romance.”

Although the women are yet to perform individually, they are already favourites with viewers. Bookmaker William Hill says the odds are on model Kelly Brook to win, with sports presenter Gabby Logan and Rod Stewart’s wife Penny Lancaster following closely behind.

The women are also proving popular on X Factor. Last night judges Sharon Osbourne, Simon Cowell, Danni Minogue and Louis Walsh picked 12 finalists to compete in the live shows, and today William Hill reported girl groups Hope and Futureproof, both coached by Simon Cowell, are the favourites to win.

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