It’s round one to The X-Factor as a glitzier and revamped Strictly Come Dancing failed to catch its ITV rival in the ratings war.

Early figures suggest BBC1′s Saturday night show pulled in four million viewers less at the weekend – despite a revamped format and better calibre of celebrity.

The new series certainly kicked off in style, with those all-important pairings with the professional dancers revealed during the launch programme and a newly-installed viewing gallery overlooking the dance floor for the participating celebrities.

A trio of new hunky male dancers was also introduced while the glamour, complete with fabulous frocks, was in plentiful supply.

And the new-look Strictly certainly has the team on X-Factor a little unsettled.

The ITV producers had obviously saved some of the best clips from their auditions tour and unleashed them just in time for Strictly’s opening offering.

Two of the most talented singers of the evening were put through the mill on Saturday night as Simon Cowell and his fellow judges ramped up the drama.

First guest judge Pixie Lott hesitated over her decision on Tom Richards. She said ‘no’ at first and then changed it to a ‘yes’.

Wannabe Paije Richardson was even given the boot by Cheryl Cole and Simon only for Louis Walsh to insist he be invited back at the end of the day to sing again.

Predictably he then won a yes from all three judges in what was simply a tension-building exercise. Both singers were always going to go through.

Meanwhile Strictly’s Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly were also hoping saving the best for last would help to keep those crucial viewers hooked as Anne Widdecombe and Anton Du Beke’s partnership was the last to be revealed. Although viewers could see that one coming too.

In the first of what they hope will be a series of must-see comic moments, they caused chaos on the dancefloor as Strictly’s first stint for 2010 came to close.

While X-Factor is edging out in front, the BBC certainly pulled out the stops and shouldn’t give up just yet on wiping that smile off Mr Cowell’s face.

It’s just a shame that bosses gave us a taste of treats to come and then announced a three-week break before the next show, while X-Factor boasted a double bill for next Saturday and Sunday night which could just give them round two in the Saturday-night face-off.

By Tracey O’Sullivan