ITV ratings slump continues as X Factor is watched by 3million fewer viewers than last year... while bosses 'plan to axe failing Red Or Black'

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Overnight viewing figures reveal X Factor pulled a peak of only 7.9 million viewers last night, adding more speculation that the singing competition could be losing its sparkle.
Since the show's return to screens four weeks ago, it has been struggling to entice the large audience numbers it has grown accustomed to over the last eight series.
Saturday night's show, which featuredSpice Girl Geri Halliwell, pulled in 8.2m viewers from 8.10pm, including the broadcast an hour later on ITV1 +1 - the lowest ratings for the 2012 series.
Ratings winner: Geri Halliwell helped X Factor claw back some of their lost viewers on Saturday night And last night’s show was down 400,000 on last week’s programme, despite Cowell flying in from Los Angeles to personally oversee the editing.
After a summer of Team GB and Paralympic GB, X Factor bosses are finding it hard to get viewers to change their allegiance to Team Tulisa, Gary, Louis or Nicole.
 
Lastweek, the third episode managed just 8.6 million viewers across ITV and ITV 1+.
Too much: Viewers are losing interest in fame hungry singers, preferring the dedication of athletes
Ratings winner: Rihanna and Jay Z joined Coldplay to perform at the Olympics Closing CeremonyThe figures are a stark contrast to four episodes in to the competition this time last year when the show averaged 11.1 million viewers –and the series peaked at 12.5 million.
Viewing figures for last night's showare also thought to taken a dive due to people tuning in to the pomp and fanfare of the Paralympics Closing Ceremony.
Figures reveal that the elaborate event, screened on Channel 4, pulled an impressive 5.9 million viewers.
The incredible spectacular that marked the end of a blissful summer of sport featured a fifteen-song live performance from Coldplay, and segments when they were joined by global megastar Rihanna and rapper Jay-Z.
Spectacular ending: The X Factor couldn't compete with the Olympics Closing Ceremony
Real heroes: Paralympians soak up the Closing Ceremony atmosphere inside the StadiumDubbed The Festival of the Flame, it also featured a Mad Max inspired skit where industrial, over-styled cars, modified and welded in Britain, roared in to the Olympic Stadium, thrilling audiences.
After six weeks of watching British athletes winning medals and breaking records, the UK was glued to the closing ceremony.
The Olympics and Paralympics have captured the imaginations and hearts of the entire country, who have discovered a perhaps previously unknown love for competitive sport.
X Factor producers have previously blamed the dip in ratings on warm weather, and people choosing to watch the show on catch up services.
Meanwhile, it has been claimed that ITV bosses are considering axing another of their big Saturday night shows, Red Or Black, after the second series failed to draw in viewers.
The gambling show only attracted just over four million on viewers on Saturday night to watch carpenter Graham Fletcher win £1.5 million, the biggest cash prize in UK TV history and ITV bosses said to be ready to pull the plug.
Get us out of here! Ant and Dec are also said to be keen to ditch their roles presenting Red Or Black after the ITV show failed to draw in viewersAccording to reports, presenters Ant and Dec are also planning to ditch their roles presenting the programme to concentrate  on their other shows I'm A Celebrity... Get Me out of Here! and Saturday Night Takeaway.
A source told The Sun newspaper: 'Ant and Dec have a huge, loyal fanbase but if a format doesn't interest people then there is only so much they can do.
'They have done two series and it still hasn't worked. They're not jumping up and down about it, but it's highly unlikely they'll make more.
'Their focus is on I'm A Celebrity... and Saturday Night Takeaway.'