RATINGS

CHRISTMAS DAY RATINGS

1998

1) Men Behaving Badly (BBC1)......................................13.9m
1) EastEnders (BBC1)......................................................13.9m
3) Coronation Street (ITV)...........................................13.5m
4) They Think It's All Over (BBC1)...............................12.1m
5) Before They Were Famous (BBC1)..........................11.4m
6) You've Been Framed (ITV)........................................10.7m
7) Emmerdale (ITV).........................................................10.1m
8) EastEnders (BBC1).......................................................9.6m
9) Aunty's Spanking New Bloomers (BBC1)................9.1m
10) Film : Babe (BBC1)........................................................8.8m

1999

1) Coronation Street (ITV)............................................14.7m
2) Vicar of Dibley (BBC1)...............................................12.4m
3) Who Wants to Be A Millionaire (8.30pm)(ITV)...12.0m
4) Before They Were Famous (BBC1).........................11.9m
5) BBC News (BBC1).......................................................11.7m
6) EastEnders (8.30pm) (BBC1)...................................11.2m
7) EastEnders (5.50pm) (BBC1)....................................11.1m
7) Emmerdale (ITV)........................................................11.1m
7) A Touch of Frost (ITV)..............................................11.1m
10) Who Wants to Be A Millionaire (10.30pm) (ITV)11.0m

2000

1) Coronation Street(ITV)..............................................13.7m
2) EastEnders (part two) (BBC1)...................................12.1m
3) Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (part two)(ITV)11.1m
4) ITV Nightly News (ITV) ...........................................10.8m
5) EastEnders (part one) (BBC1)..................................10.1m
6) Film : Titanic (BBC1)...................................................9.9m
7) Millionaire (part one) (ITV).......................................9.6m
8) Emmerdale (ITV).........................................................9.3m
9) You've Been Framed (ITV)........................................9.3m
10) The Royle Family (BBC1)............................................8.3m

2001

1) Only Fools and Horses (BBC1)...............................20.3m
2) EastEnders (20:30) (BBC1).....................................14.5m
3) Coronation Street (ITV).........................................12.0m
4) EastEnders (17:55) (BBC1).......................................10.5m
5) Who wants to be a Millionaire? (ITV)..................9.6m
6) Before They Were Famous (BBC1)........................9.3m
7) Emmerdale (ITV).......................................................8.6m
8) The Lost World (BBC1).............................................8.3m
9) News (20:20) (BBC1).................................................8.0m
10) Toy Story (BBC1)........................................................7.4m
11) Alistair McGowan's Big Impression (BBC1)..........7.1m

2002

1) Only Fools And Horses (BBC1)...............................16.3m
2) EastEnders (21:05 ) (BBC1).....................................16.0m
3) Coronation Street (ITV1)........................................13.3m
4) EastEnders (18:15) (BBC1).......................................12.4m
5) News (18:00) (BBC1).................................................10.8m
6) Emmerdale (ITV1)....................................................10.3m
7) Queen's Speech (BBC1 6.5m & ITV1 2.8m)..........9.3m
8) Chicken Run (BBC1)...................................................9.1m
9) French And Saunders (BBC1)..................................8.7m
10) My Family (BBC1).......................................................8.0m

2003

1) Only Fools and Horses (BBC1)..............................15.5m
2) EastEnders (20:30) (BBC1)....................................14.0m
3) Coronation Street (ITV1).......................................11.8m
4) EastEnders (18:00) (BBC1).....................................11.4m
5)= My Family (BBC1).....................................................8.3m
5)= Emmerdale (ITV1)....................................................8.3m
7) BBC News (17:45) (BBC1)..........................................7.8m
8)= Queen's Speech (BBC1)...........................................6.5m
8)= Posh and Becks' Big Impression (BBC1)............ 6.5m
10) Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Celebrity (ITV1)6.3m

2004

1) EastEnders (BBC1).............................................................12.3m
2) The Vicar of Dibley (BBC1).............................................. 11.8m
3) Coronation Street (ITV1)..................................................11.3m
4) Film:Harry Potter & the Philpsopher's Stone (BBC1)..7.9m
5) Emmerdale (ITV1)................................................................7.5m
6) The Queen's Speech (BBC1 5.5m, ITV1 1.5m) ...............7.0m
7) Absolutely Fabulous (BBC1)..............................................6.6m
7) Midsomer Murders (ITV1).................................................6.6m
9) Parkinson (ITV1)...................................................................5.1m

2005

1) EastEnders (BBC1)............................................11.0m
2) Doctor Who (BBC1)..........................................9.8m
2) Coronation Street (ITV1)................................9.8m
4) The Two Ronnies (BBC1)................................9.4m
5) Film: Shrek (BBC1) ...........................................7.6m
6) Emmerdale (ITV1) ............................................6.9m
7) Film : Toy Story 2 (BBC1).................................6.9m
8) Who Wants to be a Millionaire (ITV1)..........6.6m
9) BBC News 18:45 bulletin (BBC1).....................6.2m
9) The Queen's Christmas Message (BBC1).....6.2m

2006

1) The Vicar of Dibley (BBC1).......................................11.4m
2) EastEnders part two (BBC1)...................................10.7m
3) Coronation Street (ITV1)..........................................9.6m
4) EastEnders part one (BBC1)....................................9.2m
5) Doctor Who (BBC1)...................................................8.7m
6) Little Britain Abroad (BBC1)....................................8.4m
7) The Queen's Christmas Message(BBC1 & ITV1)..7.6m
8) Strictly Come Dancing Special (BBC1)..................7.3m
9) Emmerdale (7.2m) (BBC1)..........................................7.2m
10) Strictly Come Dancing Preview (BBC1).................6.8m

2007

1) EastEnders part two (BBC1)...................................13.9m
2) Doctor Who (BBC1)..................................................13.8m
3) EastEnders part one (BBC1)....................................11.8m
4) To The Manor Born (BBC1).....................................10.1m
4) Film : Shrek 2 (BBC1)................................................10.1m
4) BBC News at Six (BBC1)...........................................10.1m
7) Strictly Come Dancing Special (BBC1)..................9.9m
8) Coronation Street (ITV1)..........................................9.6m
9) Film : Finding Nemo (BBC1)....................................8.3m
10) The Queen's Christmas Message (BBC1 & ITV1).7.5m

2008

1) Wallace & Gromit:
A Matter of Loaf and Death (BBC1)..........14.4m (Average: 14.3m)
2) EastEnders part two (BBC1)......................12.6m (11.5m)
3) Doctor Who (BBC1).......................................12.0m (11.7m)
4) The Royle Family (BBC1).............................11.0m (10.0m)
5) EastEnders part one (BBC1)......................10.2m ( 9.9m)
6) BBC News (BBC1).........................................,.9.5m ( 9.5m)
7) Strictly Come Dancing Special (BBC1)......9.3m ( 8.6m)
8) Film : Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
(BBC1)................................................................8.6m ( 7.2m)
9) Blackadder Rides Again (BBC1)...................7.9m ( 5.6m)
10) The Queen (BBC1 & ITV1)............................7.8m ( 8.2m)
11) Coronation Street (ITV1)...............................7.6m ( 7.4m)

Key: The first number is the peak viewing figure, measured at 15-minute intervals. The figure in brackets is the show's average audience. Short programmes tend to record high averages.
Source: BARB

2009

1) EastEnders (BBC1)....................................................10.9m
2) The Royle Family (BBC1).........................................10.2m
3) Doctor Who (BBC1).................................................10.0m
4) Gavin and Stacey (BBC1).........................................9.2m
5) The Gruffalo (BBC1).................................................8.8m
6) The Queen (BBC1 5.7m, ITV1 2.4m)......................8.1m
7) Coronation Street (ITV1).........................................7.9m
8) Catherine Tate : Nan's Xmas Carol (BBC1)..........7.1m
9) BBC News (17:15) (BBC1).........................................6.8m
9) Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1)..............................6.8m

2010

1) EastEnders (BBC1)..................................11.7m (11.4m)
2) Doctor Who (BBC1)............................. 10.7m (10.3m)
3) Come Fly With Me (BBC1)..................10.3m (10.3m)
4) The Royle Family (BBC1).....................10.2m ( 9.9m)
5) Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1)............9.6m ( 9.4m)
6) Coronation Street (ITV1)......................9.1m ( 9.0m)
7) The One Ronnie (BBC1).........................8.5m ( 7.9m)
8) Emmerdale (ITV1)...................................7.8m ( 7.2m)
9) Shrek The Third (BBC1)........................ 7.5m ( 7.2m)
10) BBC News (BBC1)....................................7.2m ( 7.2m)

Source: BARB overnight figures

2011

Top 10 shows watched on Christmas Day
(average audience)

1) Eastenders (BBC1)..........................................9.9m
2) Coronation Street (ITV1).............................9.0m
3) Doctor Who (BBC1).......................................8.9m
4) Downton Abbey (ITV1)..................................8.1m
5) Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1)....................7.5m
6) Absolutely Fabulous (BBC1).........................7.4m
7) The Gruffalo's Child (BBC1).........................6.5m
8) Michael McIntyre's Christmas Comedy
Roadshow (BBC1)...........................................6.4m
9) The Queen's Speech (BBC1)........................6.3m
10) Emmerdale (ITV1).........................................6.2m

2012

1) EastEnders (BBC1) ......................................9.4m
2) Coronation Street (ITV1) ..........................8.8m
3) Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1) .................7.8m
4) The Royle Family (BBC1) ............................7.7m
5) Dr Who (BBC1) .............................................7.6m
6) Downton Abbey (ITV1) ...............................7.3m
6) Call The Midwife (BBC1) ............................7.3m
8) The Queen (BBC1) .......................................6.3m
9) Emmerdale (ITV1) .......................................6.2m
10) BBC News (BBC1) ........................................6.1m

(These are overnights provided by Broadcasters'
Audience Research Board and Television Research Partnership)

2013

Top 10 shows watched on Christmas Day
(average audience)

1) Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Special BBC1 .......9.4m
2) Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor BBC1 .....8.3m
3) Coronation Street ITV ...........................................7.9m
4) EastEnders BBC1 .....................................................7.8m
5) The Queen BBC1/ITV.............................................7.5m
6) Strictly Come Dancing Xmas Special BBC1.......7.3m
7) Call The Midwife BBC1 ...........................................7.1m
8) Downton Abbey ITV ..............................................6.6m
9) Toy Story 3 BBC1 ....................................................6.3m
10) BBC1 News (3.15pm) & ITV News (7.15pm) .......5.6m

2014

Christmas Day Overnight Ratings

1) The Queen (BBC One and ITV)..................................7.82m
2) Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas Special (BBC One) .7.61m
3) EastEnders (BBC One) ................................................7.55m
4) Strictly Come Dancing Xmas Special (BBC One).6.98m
5) Call The Midwife (BBC One)......................................6.83m
6) Miranda (BBC One)......................................................6.67m
7) Coronation Street (ITV)...............................................6.41m
8) Doctor Who (BBC One)...............................................6.34m
9) Emmerdale (ITV)..........................................................5.53m
10) Downton Abbey (ITV)................................................5.52m

Source: Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB)

2015

  Christmas Day Overnight Ratings

1) The Queen (BBC One/ITV) .....................................................7.2m (6.1m on BBC One and 1.1m on ITV)
2) Downton Abbey - The Finale (ITV) ......................................6.6m
3) Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special (BBC One)......6.5m
4) Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas Special (BBC One)...............6.4m
5) Stick Man (BBC One) ...............................................................6.4m
6) Call The Midwife (BBC One).................................................. 5.8m
7) Doctor Who (BBC One) ...........................................................5.8m
8) EastEnders (BBC One) .............................................................5.7m
9) Coronation Street (ITV)...........................................................5.6m
10) Brave (BBC One) ........................................................................5.5m

   (These figures exclude repeats and +1 catch up channels)

Christmas Day 2015 consolidated Top 10

  1) Downton Abbey (ITV)......................................................10.90m
2) Mrs Brown's Boys (BBC1)..................................................9.49m
3) Call the Midwife (BBC1)....................................................9.30m
4) Stick Man (BBC1).................................................................9.27m
5) Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1).........................................8.54m
6) The Queen's Message (BBC1/ITV)..................................7.76m
7) Doctor Who (BBC1)..................... .......................................7.69m
8) EastEnders (BBC1)...............................................................7.67m
9) Coronation Street (ITV).................................................... 7.27m
10) Film : Brave (BBC1).............................................................. 6.05m

2016

The overnight TV ratings refer only to live television viewing and do not include online or catch-up audiences.

Christmas Day Overnight Ratings

The Queen at 3pm - BBC One and ITV ......................................... 7.7m
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special - BBC One ...............7.2m
The Great Christmas Bake Off - BBC One ....................................6.3m
Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas Special - BBC One......................... 6.1m
Call The Midwife - BBC One .............................................................6.1m
EastEnders - BBC One .......................................................................5.9m
Coronation Street - ITV (not including ITV +1).............................5.8m
Doctor Who - BBC One.......................................................................5.7m
Frozen - BBC One ................................................................................4.7m
Emmerdale - ITV...................................................................................4.2m

Christmas Day Consolidated Ratings

Call The Midwife, BBC1 ......................................................................9.20m
Mrs Brown’s Boys, BBC1 .....................................................................8.98m
Strictly Come Dancing, BBC1 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,8.94m
The Great Christmas Bake Off, BBC1...............................................8.21m
Coronation Street, ITV .......................................................................8.12m
Doctor Who, BBC1................................................................................7.83m
EastEnders, BBC1..................................................................................7.82m
Queen's Speech, BBC1/ITV................................................................7.70m
Emmerdale, ITV....................................................................................,6.21m
Frozen, BBC1...........................................................................................5.25m

2017

Christmas Day Overnight Ratings (including ITV + 1)

1) The Queen (BBC One, ITV, Sky News)...........................................7.6m
2) Mrs Brown's Boys (BBC One)...........................................................6.8m
3) Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One).................................................6.5m
4) Call the Midwife (BBC One)..............................................................6.3m
5) EastEnders (BBC One).........................................................................6.3m
6) Doctor Who (BBC One)........................................................................5.7m
7) Coronation Street (ITV).......................................................................5.1m
8) BBC Teatime News (BBC One)..........................................................4.2m
9) The Highway Rat (BBC One)..............................................................4.0m
10) Cinderella (BBC One)............................................................................3.6m

Christmas Day Consolidated Ratings

1) Call the Midwife (BBC One) ..............................................................9.6m
2) Mrs Brown's Boys (BBC One) ........................................................... 9.0m
3) Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One) ..................................................8.3m
4) EastEnders (BBC One) ..........................................................................8.1m
5) Doctor Who (BBC One) ........................................................................7.9m
6) Coronation Street (ITV) ......................................................................7.0m
7) The Queen (BBC One) ...........................................................................6.2m
8) The Highway Rat (BBC One) ..............................................................6.0m
9) Victoria (ITV) ...........................................................................................5.4m
10) Emmerdale (ITV) .....................................................................................5.1m

Figures from https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/lifestyle/entertainment/call-the-midwife-crowned-winner-of-the-christmas-day-ratings-battle/

2018

Christmas Day Overnights

(as posted by @lizo_mzimba on twitter)

1) The Queen (BBC One) (ITV, ITV+1), Sky)...................6.4m
2) Michael McIntyre (BBC One)........................................6.1m
3) Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One)..............................5.8m
4) Call The Midwife (BBC One)..........................................5.5m
5) Jungle Book (BBC One)....................................................5.2m
6) EastEnders (BBC One).....................................................5.0m
7) BBC News (BBC One).........................................................4.7m
8) Mrs Brown's Boys (BBC One).........................................4.7m
9) Coronation Street (ITV, ITV+1) .....................................4.6m
10) Zog (BBC One)......................................................................4.5m

11) Emmerdale (ITV, ITV+1)....................................................4.0m
12) ITV News (ITV, ITV+1).......................................................3.5m
13) Torvill & Dean (ITV, ITV+1)..............................................2.9m
14) Paul O Grady For The Love of Dogs (ITV, ITV+1)....2.9m
15) Great Christmas Bake-Off (Ch4) ..................................2.7m
16) Home Alone 2 (Ch4) ...........................................................2.6m
17) The Good Dinosaur (BBC One).......................................2.5m
18) The Gruffalo's Child (BBC One).....................................2.3m
19) Top of the Pops (BBC One)...............................................2.3m
20) Outnumbered (BBC One).................................................2.2m

Christmas Day Consolidated Ratings

(as posted by @lizo_mzimba on twitter)

1) Call The Midwife (BBC1) .............................................. 8.7m
2) Michael McIntyre (BBC1) ..............................................7.6m
3) Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1) .....................................7.5m
4) The Queen (BBC, ITV, Sky).............................................7.1m
5) Zog (BBC1) ...........................................................................6.9m
6) Mrs Brown's Boys (BBC1) ............................................ 6.7m
7) Coronation Street (ITV) ............................................... 6.7m
8) EastEnders (BBC1) ......................................................... 6.5m
9) Jungle Book (BBC1) ........................................................ 5.5m
10) Emmerdale (ITV) ............................................................. 5.4m

2019

1)  Gavin and Stacey (BBC1) .........................................................11.6m
2) The Queen's Christmas Broadcast (BBC1, ITV, Sky) ... 7.85m
3)  Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1) ............................................ 5.49m
4) EastEnders (BBC1) ................................................................... 5.47m
5) Michael McIntyre (BBC1)........................................................5.25m
6)  Call The Midwife (BBC1)..........................................................5.23m
7) Mrs Brown's Boys (BBC1)........................................................4.63m
8)  Coronation Street (ITV) ......................................................4.48m
9)  Emmerdale (ITV) ....................................................................... 4.11m
10) Finding Dory (BBC1) .............................................................3.99m

Figures from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50915905

2020

1. The Queen (BBC1, ITV, Sky)................8.14m
2. Call The Midwife (BBC1)......................5.43m
3. Blankety Blank (BBC1)..........................5.26m
4. Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1)..........4.86m
5. The Wheel (BBC1)..................................4.66m
6. Coronation Street (ITV)......................4.55m
7. Mrs Brown’s Boys (BBC1)....................3.81m
8. Emmerdale (ITV) ...................................3.57m
9. EastEnders (BBC1) .................................3.54m
10. The Chase (ITV) .....................................3.02m

From https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/christmas-day-ratings-the-top-10