This year’s Britain’s Got Talent final attracted the lowest audience in the show’s 10-year history.

ITV said Household Cavalry bandsman Richard Jones’ triumph pulled in a peak audience of 10.5 million viewers and a 48% share of TV viewing at around 9.55pm.

Ratings figures showed the two-and-a-half-hour broadcast averaged 8,502,000 viewers across the show, equivalent to a 42.4% share of viewing.

Although Britain’s Got Talent was still the most watched Saturday night programme by nearly six million viewers, the audience figures were down by around three million on 2015.

Lucy and Trip Hazard, Beau Dermott and 100 Voices of Gospel from Britain's Got Talent (ITV)
Lucy and Trip Hazard, Beau Dermott and 100 Voices of Gospel from Britain’s Got Talent were all finalists (ITV)

Saturday’s second most watched programme was BBC1′s Michael McIntyre’s Big Show with an estimated 2.8 million viewers and a 17.6% audience share.

Last year’s Britain’s Got Talent final was watched by 52% of viewers, as a peak audience of 13.4 million saw Jules O’Dwyer and Matisse become the second dog act to win the show.

The 2015 final averaged 11.7 million viewers and a 48% share of viewing.

Richard’s win competed for viewers with coverage of the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, which went to air free of charge on BT Sport.

Amanda Holden and Richard Jones on Britain's Got Talent (ITV)
Amanda Holden and Richard Jones on Britain’s Got Talent (ITV)