X Factor named as Ireland’s favourite reality TV show

'The X Factor' is Ireland’s all-time favourite reality TV programme, according to a new survey.

The talent show beat off stiff competition to nab the top spot, with more than one third of Irish people (35.1%) saying it was the best reality programme of all time, according to the UPC Ireland survey on Irish TV habits.

TV3’s 'The Apprentice' was ranked second with 20.2% while reality TV pioneer 'Big Brother' had to settle for third place with 9.6%.

The UPC survey reveals that almost two thirds (65.3%) of us are regularly watching 'X Factor' on a Saturday night compared with a meagre 11.2% tuning in to watch former MP Ann Widecombe take a turn around the dance floor on BBC’s 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

So addicted are we as a nation to 'The X Factor' that 14.3% of us claim to not go out on a Saturday night because we cannot miss an episode.

However, while we are TV obsessed nation, the majority of us do not let 'The X Factor' come between us and a good night out with 31.6% of people polled saying they still go out but digitally record the show so they can watch it the next day.

“Is is clear from the findings that we are a TV obsessed nation and big entertainment shows such as 'X Factor' have now become unmissable television,” said Simon Kelehan, Head of Television at UPC.

“However, it was heartening to see that we haven’t given up socialising altogether with nearly a third of people digitally recording the show so they can catch up later.”