King’s Christmas Message tops UK ratings
Inaugural speech drew 8.1m Brits followed by Strictly Come Dancing.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
The King’s Christmas Message topped British viewing on Christmas Day.
The inaugural speech drew 8.1m Brits on BBC One, as King Charles paid tribute to his late mother Elizabeth II.
In Australia it was also third behind news bulletins at 414,000 metro viewers.
Strictly Come Dancing was the most popular entertainment show on Christmas Day with 5.4 million UK viewers
BBC secured the top six most watched programmes, and seven out of the top ten as audiences turned to the BBC across the day for an outstanding range of programmes across drama, comedy and entertainment.
Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer says: “Winning the Christmas Day ratings caps off an incredible centenary year of world class content on the BBC.
“In a time of so much competition and choice, the BBC continues to be the UK’s entertainment destination on Christmas Day.”
|
1 |
The King’s Christmas Broadcast |
BBC One |
8.1 |
|
2 |
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special |
BBC One |
5.4 |
|
3 |
Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Wheel |
BBC One |
4.8 |
|
4 |
Call the Midwife |
BBC One |
4.5 |
|
5 |
Aladdin |
BBC One |
4.4 |
|
6 |
Ghosts Christmas Special |
BBC One |
3.9 |
|
7 |
Doc Martin |
ITV |
3.3 |
|
8 |
EastEnders |
BBC One |
3.2 |
|
9 |
Coronation Street |
ITV |
2.8 |
|
10 |
Ant and Dec |
ITV |
2.7 |
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10 Responses
I think the coronation next year and subsequent ratings will be very interesting to see in Australia, it seems support for the monarchy is continuing with HM Charles III.
I didn’t think the ratings would be as high on the ABC here in Australia.
Eastenders is available on iplayer at 6am daily so figures may be higher once iplayer ratings are released.
I wish Foxtel/Binge fast tracked EastEnders like 10 do with Bold as we have to wait a couple of weeks for the big Christmas day episode to air here.
BBC had ended the Top of The Pops Christmas Special, which would’ve lost them many viewers, and disappointed many.
It was the last bastion for TOTP, and marks the end of an era.
It seems to have gone ahead on BBC 2, though it was widely reported to have been axed.
The TOTP on BBC2 was a clip show from BBC Radio 1 live lounge throughout the year . It shouldn’t have even been called TOTP. It was very disappointing
It might have been something they did at the last minute after the backlash of axing it.
The viewers were lost long before they dropped it and it’s baffling it continued. An analogue show for a streaming age – nobody who valued the TOTP brand is interested in the Hart hits of this year and vice versa. We’re now in an era where for most new pop acts TOTP has never been part of their childhood.
Love Michael McIntyre…..looking forward to Ghosts Christmas Special.
8.1m is only the BBC One figure. It was also on ITV1 where another 1.58m watched and on BBC2 (with Sign Language) where 929k watched.
Also was shown on a smattering of Sky channels where the figures would have been negligible.
10.6m is the figure being bandied around.