This TV show was the most-watched programme on Christmas Day

The BBC dominated yet again this year - but ratings were down on last year...

 

The BBC yet again managed to top the ratings on 25 December - and it was Michael McIntyre's Big Show that came out top for the channel.

The Queen's Speech topped the ratings list with 6.4 million viewers, which was jointly aired on BBC One, ITV, Sky News and Sky One. Last year, the same broadcast brought in 5.7 million viewers.

Michael McIntyre's Big Show followed next with 6.1 million viewers, while the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special brought in less than previous years, with 5.8 million viewers.

Eastenders topped the list when it came to soaps, bringing in 5 million. Christmas Day's episode was a dramatic one, seeing Alfie and Hayley's baby secret exposed, but despite the revelation, it failed to bring in as many viewers as last year, which saw 6.3 million tune in.

(Image credit: BBC / Kieron McCarron)

Over on ITV, their one off biopic Torvill & Dean, which starred Will Tudor and Poppy Lee Friar, saw just 2.9 million people tune in.

While Coronation Street and Emmerdale saw 4.6 million and 4.0 million respectively.

Channel 4's Great British Christmas Bake Off, which saw Jane Beedle crowned the winner, was less popular than expected, brining in 2.7 million.

We'll have to wait until New Year's Day to see how Doctor Who's Christmas Special does, which has been aired on 25 December in previous years.

And with a new series of Luther returning in the new year too, perhaps people are waiting until 2019 to get their TV fix...

Freelance writer

Lauren is the former Deputy Digital Editor at woman&home and became a journalist mainly because she enjoys being nosy. With a background in features journalism, Lauren worked on the woman&home brand for four years before going freelance. Before woman&home Lauren worked across a variety of women's lifestyle titles, including GoodTo, Woman's Own, and Woman magazine. After starting out working for a local paper in Yorkshire, her journalism career took her to Bristol where she hunted out stories for national papers and magazines at Medavia news agency, before landing a job in London working as a lifestyle assistant.


A big fan of adventure, Lauren is also a keen travel writer and loves sharing tips on where to find the best places to eat, drink, and be merry off the beaten track. Lauren has written a series of travel guides for London hotels and loves sharing her insights into a destination's cultural and culinary offerings. If you need a recommendation on any UK destination, she's more than happy to help. At the weekend, you'll usually find her hanging out with her pet cat (or anyone else's pet she can get her hands on), escaping to the countryside, or devouring a good book.