According to overnight watching statistics, King Charles’s first Christmas greeting received the highest viewership this century for the monarch’s customary holiday speech.
The 3 pm address was broadcast on more networks than ever before, with a combined audience of 10.7 million.
In contrast, 8.96 million people saw Queen Elizabeth II’s farewell Christmas address last year.
During his first joyous speech, the King praised his mother’s accomplishments.
As he spoke about individuals having trouble paying their bills, he also used the occasion to consider the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The audience for the late Queen’s annual broadcast fell below 10 million in the late 1990s and had not risen that high again, according to statistics compiled by Sussex University.
The message has frequently been the most watched Christmas Day program in recent years, but that is only because viewers are increasingly turning off other Christmas broadcasts or delaying their viewing of them. Even though the Queen’s speech was pre-recorded, many people still viewed it as a live event that needed to be seen at the time of transmission.
The King’s first message was broadcast concurrently on BBC One, ITV1, ITV3, Sky News, and GB News, with a signed version on BBC Two due to the increasing curiosity about what he would say.
With seven of the top ten series airing on BBC One, the BBC can also boast of having won the viewership war.
The estimated audience size is based on “overnight” statistics, which primarily reflect viewers who viewed the programs live. They do not, therefore, count people who watch Christmas specials on catch-up services over the course of the rest of the holiday season.
Top ten Christmas Day programming
- (The King) (BBC, Sky, ITV, and GB News) 10.72m
- Strictly Come Dancing is second (BBC One) 5.44m
- (BBC One) 4.81m Michael McIntyre’s Xmas Wheel
- Call The Midwife (4.49m, BBC One)
- Aladdin (BBC One), 4.39 million
- Ghosts (BBC One), 3.92 million
- Doc Martin (3.26 million)
- EastEnders (BBC One), 3.17 million
- 2.85m Coronation Street (ITV1)
- 10) Ant and Dec’s Unstoppable Victory (ITV1) 2.69m
The Broadcasters Audience Research Board (Barb) provided all data.
According to rating agency Barb, Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas Special had the second-highest viewership of the day with 5.44 million people tuned in to see Alexandra Mardell of Coronation Street win the Christmas star-themed prize.
EastEnders finished seventh in this year’s holiday soap competition, taking first place. 3.17 million people tuned in to see soap opera actor Danny Dyer exit Albert Square after nine years of portraying Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter.
ITV’s Coronation Street was the next-most-watched soap on Christmas Day, coming in ninth with 2.85 million people. But Emmerdale narrowly missed making it into the Top 10.
Despite airing at a late hour, Doc Martin had the highest audience rating on ITV, drawing 3.26 million viewers.
The King’s Christmas message was one of the top six most-watched programs, which was broadcast by the BBC.
Charlotte Moore, chief content officer, said: “Winning the Christmas Day ratings brings to a close the BBC’s outstanding centenary year of top-notch content. The BBC continues to be the UK’s top entertainment destination on Christmas Day despite the high levels of competition and choice today.”
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