Lauren Turner
PA MediaThe King’s Christmas Broadcast was the most-watched TV programme in the UK on Christmas Day, overnight data has shown.
Nearly 7m tuned in on the BBC, ITV, Sky News and GB News to watch King Charles deliver his annual message, this year recorded in Westminster Abbey.
After the King, the next most popular show was The Scarecrows’ Wedding on BBC One, watched by 4.3m. It is based on the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, who wrote and illustrated The Gruffalo.
All figures are based on “overnight” TV ratings – which do not include viewers who watch Christmas specials on catch-up services during the rest of the festive period.
The King used his traditional speech to invoke the wartime spirit, urging people to get to know their neighbours and “never lose sight” of the values in which communities came together “in the face of such great challenge”.
The figures also do not include the small number watching the King’s message on Sky Showcase, Sky Mix HD or other non-TV platforms.
Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas Special – which saw Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman host the show together for the final time – was the third most popular programme, with 4.2m tuning in.
They ended the festive special with their “keep dancing!” catchphrase, with Winkleman saying the audience watching over the years had “meant a world to us”.
There was a drop in viewers for EastEnders however, eighth most-watched this year with 2.85m for the first of its two Christmas Day episodes.
The second did not make the viewing figures top 10.
Soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale, both on ITV1, did not make the top 10 with their Christmas Day episodes.
This year, BBC programmes made up nine of the top 10 most-watched programmes across the day.
A festive episode of the 1% Club, the quiz hosted by Lee Mack, on ITV1, was in ninth place with 2.75m watching.
The BBC’s chief content officer Kate Phillips said this was “a timely reminder that shared moments really do still matter even in a world of so much choice”.
Top 10 most watched Christmas Day TV shows
- The King (BBC, ITV, BBC News and Sky News) 6.56m (not including other channels)
- The Scarecrows’ Wedding 4.31m
- Strictly Come Dancing 4.24m
- Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel 3.71m
- Call the Midwife 3.44m
- Gladiators 3.16m
- Amandaland 3.05m
- EastEnders 2.85m
- The 1% Club 2.75m
- The Weakest Link 2.63m
Source: BARB overnight figures
