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More young people are watching Planet Earth II than the X Factor

More young people are watching Planet Earth II than the X Factor
Picture: Daniel Berehulak and YouTube/Getty

Sir David Attenborough’s hugely popular Planet Earth IIaired its final episode of the year this weekend, ending on a high note.

The iconic show, which shares both the cruelty and the beauty of nature, narrated by the nation’s favourite naturalist, has always been a ratings winner for the BBC.

The final episode, titled Cities, netted 9.5 million viewers. While in comparison, ITV’s The X Factor finale, which saw Matt Terry win, gained only seven million viewers.

In fact, more young people seem to be interested in watching bald eagles hunting for food and snow leopard mating habits than they are in the annual singing contest, which saw the likes of Honey G nabbing a record deal.

Of the success of the show, Sir David told the Radio Times:

I’m told that we are attracting a larger than normal number of younger viewers and apparently the music of Hans Zimmer in particular is striking a chord. That pleases me enormously.

It pleases us enormously, too.

More: 14 of the most jaw-dropping scenes from Planet Earth II

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