The king’s Christmas handle was probably the most watched TV programme within the UK on Christmas Day, in a single day knowledge has proven.
Almost 7 million viewers tuned in to the BBC, ITV, Sky Information or GB Information to observe King Charles ship his annual message, which was recorded in Westminster Abbey. Charles praised the “nice range of our communities” and used his Christmas handle, to induce the nation to “cherish the values of compassion and reconciliation”.
Though the king’s handle was watched by roughly the identical variety of individuals as final 12 months, it was Gavin and Stacey that gained the festive TV scores battle in 2024, with the present’s remaining farewell changing into probably the most watched Christmas Day programme in 16 years with a mean of 12.3 million viewers.
The Scarecrows’ Marriage ceremony, primarily based on the image e book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler and broadcast on BBC One, was the second hottest programme this 12 months, watched by 4.3 million individuals.
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Particular – which Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman hosted collectively for the final time – was the third hottest programme, with 4.2 million tuning in.
In the course of the send-off, each outgoing presenters acquired Christmas presents from the judges – a dance for Daly and a comedy skit for Winkleman. Their remaining dance ended with a tearful embrace, with Daly saying: “It’s our remaining time. So let’s make it depend,” earlier than the pair signed off with the catchphrase “preserve dancing”.
EastEnders had a drop in viewers in contrast with final 12 months, with the primary of two Christmas Day episodes changing into the eighth most-watched this 12 months, with 2.85 million viewers. The second episode didn’t make the viewing figures high 10.
After a troublesome 12 months, nonetheless, BBC executives could have been happy to notice that programmes from the general public broadcaster made up 9 of the highest 10 most watched programmes throughout the day. A festive episode of The 1% Membership, the quiz hosted by Lee Mack on ITV1, was in ninth place with 2.75 million watching.
The BBC’s chief content material officer, Kate Phillips, stated this was “a well timed reminder that shared moments actually do nonetheless matter even in a world of a lot selection”.
All figures are primarily based on official “in a single day” TV scores from Barb (Broadcast Viewers Analysis Board), which makes use of a panel of houses to measure what individuals watch throughout TV units, on-line and through different gadgets.
The in a single day figures from Christmas Day don’t embody viewers who watch Christmas specials on catchup providers throughout the remainder of the festive interval and don’t embody the small quantity watching the king’s message on Sky Showcase, Sky Combine HD or different non-TV platforms.
High 10 most watched Christmas Day TV reveals
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The King (BBC, ITV, BBC Information and Sky Information) 6.56m (not together with different channels)
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The Scarecrows’ Marriage ceremony 4.31m
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Strictly Come Dancing 4.24m
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Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel 3.71m
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Name the Midwife 3.44m
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Gladiators 3.16m
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Amandaland 3.05m
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EastEnders 2.85m
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The 1% Membership 2.75m
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The Weakest Hyperlink 2.63m
Supply: Barb in a single day figures
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