Just released figures for last night's launch episode of X-Factor paint a glum picture of the show's future.

According to official ratings, X-Factor had a peak audience of approximately 7,500,000 viewers throughout last night. Compared to 2015's launch episode, the show reached a peak of in and around 8,500,000 - making for a drop of 1,000,000 viewers in the space of a year.

The return of Louis Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger, Sharon Osbourne and Dermot O'Leary was hoped to revitalise X-Factor's flagging fortunes, but it now appears it hasn't done the trick. This news comes on foot of controversy surrounding one contestant's status as a professional musician and a boyband entry that's called - wait for it - Yes Lad.

Yes Lad. F*ck sake.

Last night's episode was up against the 30th Anniversary of Casualty on BBC One, which featured a feature-length episode of the long-running soap. The show's ratings have been slowly falling and the trend looks set to continue.

In 2011, the first episode launched with a peak of 10,800,000 viewers. 2009's first episode had 9,500,000 viewers on its launch and now, today's figures mark the lowest in the series' run.