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EastEnders wins Christmas Day ratings battle for fourth year running EastEnders wins Christmas Day ratings battle for fourth year running
(35 minutes later)
All the talk ahead of the traditional festive TV ratings battle was of seasonal editions of Downton Abbey and Call The Midwife. All the talk before the traditional festive TV ratings battle was of seasonal editions of Downton Abbey and Call The Midwife. But in the end, like Christmas cracker jokes, the old ones proved the best, with BBC1's EastEnders topping the overnight ratings for the fourth year in a row.
But in the end, like Christmas cracker jokes, the old ones proved the best, with BBC1's EastEnders topping the overnight TV ratings for the fourth year in a row with 9.4 million viewers, a 34.3% share of the audience, for its hour-long special on Christmas Day. The Albert Square soap had 9.4 million viewers, a 34.3% share of the audience, for its hour-long special on Christmas Day, beating its ITV1 rival, Coronation Street, into second place with 8.8 million viewers, or 34.5% of the audience.
The Albert Square soap beat its ITV1 rival, Coronation Street, into second place in the Christmas ratings rivalry, watched by 8.8 million viewers (34.5% of the audience) for its own specially extended edition.
Strictly Come Dancing followed up its triumphant 10th series with 7.8 million viewers, 33.3% of the audience, for its Christmas special, earning it third place in the festive top 10.Strictly Come Dancing followed up its triumphant 10th series with 7.8 million viewers, 33.3% of the audience, for its Christmas special, earning it third place in the festive top 10.
Caroline Aherne's BBC1 sitcom The Royle Family was in fourth place, with 7.7 million viewers (30.1%), just ahead of Doctor Who, in which the Timelord battled with nightmarish snowmen and was the fifth most popular programme of Christmas Day with 7.6 million viewers, 33.9% of the audience. Caroline Aherne's BBC1 sitcom The Royle Family was in fourth place with 7.7 million viewers (30.1%), just ahead of Doctor Who, in which the Timelord battled with nightmarish snowmen, which was the fifth most popular programme of Christmas Day with 7.6 million viewers, 33.9% of the audience.
ITV1's Downton Abbey and BBC1's Call The Midwife shared sixth spot with 7.3 million viewers each. Both dramas suffered by being scheduled against the other channel's soap — Downton was up against EastEnders, while Call The Midwife was inevitably hit by going out the same time as Coronation Street. ITV1's Downton Abbey and BBC1's Call The Midwife shared sixth spot with 7.3 million viewers each. Both dramas suffered by being scheduled against the other channel's soap – Downton was up against EastEnders, and Call The Midwife was inevitably hit by going out the same time as Coronation Street.
Both dramas are likely to fare better in the consolidated viewing figures, which include people who recorded the shows and watched them during the next seven days and will not be known until the new year. Both dramas are likely to fare better in the consolidated viewing figures, which include people who recorded the shows and watched them during the next seven days. Those figures will not be known until the new year.
Last Christmas, EastEnders was the most popular Christmas TV programme for people who watched it on the night, but it was toppled by Downton Abbey when timeshifted viewing was included.Last Christmas, EastEnders was the most popular Christmas TV programme for people who watched it on the night, but it was toppled by Downton Abbey when timeshifted viewing was included.
The Christmas Day top 10The Christmas Day top 10
1 EastEnders, BBC1, 8.45pm-9.45pm, 9.37m (34.3%)1 EastEnders, BBC1, 8.45pm-9.45pm, 9.37m (34.3%)
2 Coronation Street, ITV1, 7.30pm-8.30pm, 8.83m (34.5%)2 Coronation Street, ITV1, 7.30pm-8.30pm, 8.83m (34.5%)
3 Strictly Come Dancing, BBC1, 6.15pm-7.30pm, 7.76m (33.3%)3 Strictly Come Dancing, BBC1, 6.15pm-7.30pm, 7.76m (33.3%)
4 The Royle Family, BBC1, 9.45pm-10.45pm, 7.68m (30.1%)4 The Royle Family, BBC1, 9.45pm-10.45pm, 7.68m (30.1%)
5 Dr Who, BBC1, 5.15pm-6.15pm, 7.59m (33.9%)5 Dr Who, BBC1, 5.15pm-6.15pm, 7.59m (33.9%)
6 Downton Abbey, ITV1, 8.45pm-10.45pm, 7.32m (27.7%)6 Downton Abbey, ITV1, 8.45pm-10.45pm, 7.32m (27.7%)
7 Call The Midwife, BBC1, 7.30pm-8.45pm, 7.26m (28.3%)7 Call The Midwife, BBC1, 7.30pm-8.45pm, 7.26m (28.3%)
8 The Queen, BBC1, 3pm-3.10pm, 6.27m (36.7%)8 The Queen, BBC1, 3pm-3.10pm, 6.27m (36.7%)
9 Emmerdale, ITV1, 7pm-7.30pm, 6.23m (25.7%)9 Emmerdale, ITV1, 7pm-7.30pm, 6.23m (25.7%)
10 BBC News, BBC1, 10.45pm-11pm, 6.1m (30.3%)10 BBC News, BBC1, 10.45pm-11pm, 6.1m (30.3%)
* ITV1 figures include audience for timeshifted channel, ITV1+1 * ITV1 figures include audience for the timeshifted channel ITV1+1