Britain's Got Talent returned to ITV on Saturday with an average of 8.1 million viewers, nearly double the 4.5 million who watched the final of The Voice on BBC One. The peak audience reached 9.6 million during 13-year-old Beau Dermott's performance, which earned her a standing ovation and a Golden Buzzer.
Despite winning the ratings battle, the launch episode recorded the lowest viewing figures for any opener since the show's debut in 2007, when 4.9 million tuned in. Last year's launch attracted 10.1 million, down from a high of 11.1 million in 2014.
Viewing figures dipped after Dermott's act but peaked again at 9.5 million for Moldovan sword swallower Alexandr Magala, whose performance left judge Simon Cowell admitting, 'I actually thought you were going to die.'
Around 40% of all TV audiences watched Britain's Got Talent between 19:00 and 20:20 BST. After the show ended, two million viewers switched to The Voice for its final 40 minutes, where Kevin Simm, formerly of Liberty X, was crowned the winner.
The Voice finale drew its lowest ever ratings, down from 6.3 million last year and 6.6 million in 2014. The show will move to ITV next year after the BBC decided not to renew its contract.
