Strictly beats X Factor in ratings war as it’s a ‘family tradition’ and people base their evenings around it, says Tess Daly

STRICTLY beats X Factor in the ratings war as it's a 'family tradition' and people base their evenings around it, says Tess Daly.

It comes as the X Factor lags behind Strictly in the popularity stakes, despite mogul Simon Cowell's multi-million pound make-over.

Tess, 49, who has hosted the show for 14 years, told The Sun Online ahead of the finals this weekend: "People tell me they enjoy the tradition of sitting down and watching something on TV as a family. It's feel good, it's celebratory in tone, it's escapism."

The BBC1 dance show averaged 11 million viewers last year, while The X Factor failed to top eight million.

She added: "It's lovely that people tell me they enjoy watching it as a family. They sort of base their Saturday night on it, they do their Christmas shopping, they come in and get the dinner ready so everyone can sit together around the telly and people can do that -  generations, it's quite rare these days because the kids are usually off watching You-tube and families are separated."

Tess said: "When I grew up it was all about Saturday night television. It was about sitting down with your family and having your tea and watching something together on the telly."

Simon gave the X Factor a multi-million pound make-over in what was reportedly the most expensive shake-up to date.

The Syco boss spared no expense on the new line-up and is said to have pumped in £20 million in a bid to overtake Strictly Come Dancing in the ratings war.

He gave The X Factor an overhaul by roping in Louis Tomlinson, Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda as new judges.