Digital TV News

EastEnders wins Xmas TV ratings war

Wednesday 28 December, 2011

By Anthony Hill

Soap beats festive editions of Doctor Who and Downton Abbey

EastEnders has topped the Christmas TV ratings tree for a third consecutive year.

Official figures show that, at its peak, the BBC soap had over 10.2 million viewers on Christmas Day, while rival ITV’s Coronation Street got approximately 9.9 million. The programmes averaged 9.9 million and 9.3 million respectively.

A festive edition of ITV’s period drama Downton Abbey received the third-biggest Christmas audience, with as many as 9.1 million viewers tuned in during its two-hour time slot. BBC One’s Doctor Who came fourth, with an average audience of 8.9 million.

The Queen’s Speech, broadcast by both BBC and ITV, was watched this year by 8.2 million.

Most-watched TV programmes* - Christmas Day 2011:

1. EastEnders - BBC One - 10.2 million peak (9.9 million average)
2. Coronation Street - ITV - 9.9 million (9.3 million)
3. Downton Abbey - ITV - 9.1 million (8.6 million)
4. Doctor Who - BBC One - 9.0 million (8.9 million)
5. Queen’s Speech - BBC One and ITV - 8.2 million (8.2 million)
6. Strictly Come Dancing - BBC One - 8.0 million (7.5 million)
7. Absolutely Fabulous - BBC One - 7.9 million (7.4 million)
8. Emmerdale - ITV - 7.1 million (6.7 million)
9. All Star Family Fortunes - ITV - 6.9 million (6.4 million)
10. The Gruffalo’s Child - BBC One - 6.8 million (6.5 million)

Danny Cohen, BBC One controller, commented: “We had the most popular show and the most viewers overall on Christmas Day. From Doctor Who to The Gruffalo's Child, EastEnders to Strictly Come Dancing, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Absolutely Fabulous, we wanted to provide something for everyone."

BBC entertainment correspondent, Lizo Mzimba, added: “While the BBC has again won the overnight ratings battle, this is ITV's strongest showing for years. In 2010, only two of its programmes made it into the Christmas Day top 10. The year before only one.”

The figures also highlight the continued decline of terrestrial Christmas TV viewing. As digital, satellite and online services expand, fewer people are tuning in to festive shows as they’re broadcast.

Photo by Willemgo