EastEnders wins Christmas Day ratings battle

EastEnders wins Christmas Day ratings battle
EastEnders wins Christmas Day ratings battle (Image credit: BBC)

EastEnders was the most watched TV show on Christmas Day according to early figures, heading a list dominated almost entirely by BBC shows. According to overnight estimates from the audience research body Barb, 10.9m people tuned in to the hour-long episode to see Archie Mitchell meet his demise at the hands of a mystery assailant. The second most watched show was the Christmas special of The Royle Family, with 10.2m, followed by Doctor Who just behind on 10m. The top five was completed by Gavin and Stacey with 9.2m and the adaptation of children's book The Gruffalo with 8.8m. Just one ITV show - Coronation Street - made the top ten, finishing in sixth place. Catherine Tate: Nan's Xmas Carol and the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special also made the list. "I am thrilled that BBC One continues to be the channel of choice for Christmas Day viewing," said BBC One controller Jay Hunt. "The range and variety of our line up this year offered something for all audiences to enjoy."

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.