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Michael McIntyre draws TV's biggest Christmas Day audience Michael McIntyre beats Strictly for Christmas Day TV audience
(about 3 hours later)
The comedian Michael McIntyre’s annual festive special was the surprise Christmas Day TV hit this year, beating the likes of Strictly Come Dancing and EastEnders by drawing 6.1 million viewers on BBC One. Michael McIntyre’s annual festive special was the surprise Christmas Day TV hit this year, beating Strictly Come Dancing and EastEnders by drawing 6.1 million viewers on BBC One.
The Strictly special, which brought competitors such as Caroline Flack, Anita Rani, Jake Wood, Aston Merrygold, Ann Widdecombe and Michael Vaughan back to the dancefloor, attracted an audience of 5.8 million.The Strictly special, which brought competitors such as Caroline Flack, Anita Rani, Jake Wood, Aston Merrygold, Ann Widdecombe and Michael Vaughan back to the dancefloor, attracted an audience of 5.8 million.
Call the Midwife kicked off its eighth season with an emotional Christmas special that drew 5.5 million viewers, while Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas episode had 4.7 million. Call the Midwife kicked off its eighth season with an emotional Christmas special that drew 5.5 million viewers, while Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas episode had 4.7 million viewers.
Nine of the top 10 shown on Christmas Day were broadcast on the BBC. Coronation Street was ITV’s highest rated programme, watched by 4.6 million people including those who tuned into the plus-one channel. Nine of the top 10 shows on Christmas Day were broadcast on the BBC. Coronation Street was ITV’s highest rated programme, watched by 4.6 million people including those who tuned into the plus-one channel.
When audiences on channels are combined, the Queen’s Christmas message was the most-watched, with an audience of 6.3 million. BBC One had 5.2 million viewers and ITV, which includes plus-one, 1.1 million. The message was also broadcast on Sky. The combined figures for BBC One and ITV, however, were down 1.2 million on last year. When audiences on channels are combined, the Queen’s Christmas message was the most watched, with an audience of 6.3 million. BBC One had 5.2 million viewers and ITV, which includes plus-one, 1.1 million. The message was also broadcast on Sky. The combined figures for BBC One and ITV, however, were down 1.2 million on last year.
The Queen used her Christmas message to say the message of “peace on Earth and goodwill to all” is needed “as much as ever”. She called on the country to set aside differences and to treat others with respect. Although the Queen usually remains publicly neutral on political matters, her comments may be interpreted as referencing the turmoil over Brexit. The Queen used her Christmas address to say the message of “peace on Earth and goodwill to all” was needed “as much as ever”. She called on people to set aside differences and treat others with respect. Although the Queen usually remains publicly neutral on political matters, her comments could have been interpreted as referencing the turmoil over Brexit.
McIntyre’s festive special was recorded at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London, and featured live music from the Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins. The former footballer now TV presenter Chris Kamara was on to play Send to All, a segment in which McIntyre sends a funny text to every contact on a guest’s phone and reads the replies.McIntyre’s festive special was recorded at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London, and featured live music from the Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins. The former footballer now TV presenter Chris Kamara was on to play Send to All, a segment in which McIntyre sends a funny text to every contact on a guest’s phone and reads the replies.
Charlotte Moore, the director of BBC content, said: “We’re happy so many people chose to watch BBC One this Christmas Day. Charlotte Moore, the director of BBC content, said: “We’re happy so many people chose to watch BBC One this Christmas Day. Whether it be entertainment shows such as Michael McIntyre and Strictly Come Dancing, drama like Call the Midwife or comedy with Mrs Brown’s Boys, we want to offer something for everyone.”
“Whether it be entertainment shows such as Michael McIntyre and Strictly Come Dancing, drama like Call the Midwife or comedy with Mrs Brown’s Boys, we want to offer something for everyone.” The BBC also dominated the Christmas TV ratings last year, with eight of the 10 most popular broadcasts. About 6.8 million viewers – 32.6% of the television-watching public – tuned in to watch 2017’s Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas special. Christmas Day ratings have been in steady decline. Call the Midwife won the prize in 2016, but although 9.2 million people tuned in, according to consolidated ratings that include online streaming, it was the smallest audience for the most-watched show on Christmas Day since ratings began in 1981.
The decline appears partly down to wider choices as viewers turn in droves to the US streaming companies Netflix and Amazon. This year’s figures are a far cry from 10 years ago when the show Wallace and Gromit: a Matter of Loaf and Death drew a viewing figure of 16.2 million.
In the 1980s the average audience for festive TV was 18.5 million. The 1986 EastEnders Christmas special, when Den handed Angie divorce papers, remains one of the most watched TV moments during the festive period, with a record 30.6 million tuning in on Christmas Day and for its repeat a few days later.
Last year broadcasters released box sets to compete with Netflix and Amazon. The BBC packed iPlayer with more than 40 box sets, which included Peaky Blinders, Thirteen, and Gavin & Stacey, as well as classics such as the 1986 EastEnders Christmas special.
This year’s top 10:This year’s top 10:
1 Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Show, BBC One, 6.1 million2 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, BBC One, 5.8 million3 Call the Midwife Christmas Special, BBC One, 5.5 million4 The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast, BBC One, 5.2 million5 The Jungle Book, BBC One, 5.2 million6 EastEnders, BBC One, 5 million7 BBC News, BBC One, 4.7 million8 Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Special, BBC One, 4.7 million9 Coronation Street, ITV, 4.6 million, includes plus-one10 Zog, BBC One, 4.5 million1 Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Show, BBC One, 6.1 million2 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, BBC One, 5.8 million3 Call the Midwife Christmas Special, BBC One, 5.5 million4 The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast, BBC One, 5.2 million5 The Jungle Book, BBC One, 5.2 million6 EastEnders, BBC One, 5 million7 BBC News, BBC One, 4.7 million8 Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Special, BBC One, 4.7 million9 Coronation Street, ITV, 4.6 million, includes plus-one10 Zog, BBC One, 4.5 million
Michael McIntyre
TV ratingsTV ratings
Television Television industry
Michael McIntyre
The QueenThe Queen
EastEndersEastEnders
Strictly Come DancingStrictly Come Dancing
Coronation StreetCoronation Street
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