THE U.K.’S X FACTOR RETURNS; SO DOES SIMON COWELL

The U.K. version of Simon Cowell’s The X Factor returned on Saturday with Cowell on the judging panel for the first time since 2010. The season premiere clobbered the competition, including the BBC’s Doctor Who, attracting 9.5 million viewers and peaking with 10.6 million. That represented nearly half — 47 percent — of the total British TV audience. However, the following night the show spiraled downward, losing 1.3 million viewers. (It was nevertheless the most-watched show of the night in the U.K.) Next Sunday X Factor, which is broadcast by ITV, faces stiffer competition from the BBC hit Strictly Come Dancing, the British version of America’s Dancing with the Stars.