King's first Christmas message tops 10m viewers - BBC

King Charles's archetypal Christmas connection attracted the highest viewing figures this period for the monarch's accepted festive address, overnight viewing figures person shown.

More channels than ever carried the 3pm code - and the combined assemblage was 10.7 million.

In comparison, Queen Elizabeth II's last Christmas connection a twelvemonth agone was seen by 8.96 cardinal viewers.

The King paid tribute to his mother's enactment during his archetypal festive address.

He besides took the accidental to bespeak connected the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, arsenic helium spoke of those struggling to wage their bills.

In caller years, The Queen's yearly broadcast has regularly been the most-watched Christmas Day programme - arsenic viewers inactive see that arsenic a portion of their Christmas routine, adjacent though audiences for different TV shows person fallen dramatically connected Christmas Day.

The accrued involvement meant that the connection was shown simultaneously connected BBC One, ITV1, ITV3, Sky News and GB News - with a signed mentation connected BBC Two.

The BBC tin besides assertion to person won the viewing conflict with 7 of the apical 10 shows being screened connected BBC One.

The fig of viewers is based connected "overnight" figures - mostly based connected viewers who were watching the programmes live. So they bash not see viewers who ticker Christmas specials connected catch-up services during the remainder of the festive period.

1) The King (BBC, Sky, ITV and GB News) 10.72m

2) Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One) 5.44m

3) Michael McIntyre's Xmas Wheel (BBC One) 4.81m

4) Call The Midwife (BBC One) 4.49m

5) Aladdin (BBC One) 4.39m

6) Ghosts (BBC One) 3.92m

7) Doc Martin (ITV1) 3.26m

8) EastEnders (BBC One) 3.17m

9) Coronation Street (ITV1) 2.85m

10) Ant and Dec's Limitless Win (ITV1) 2.69m

All figures supplied by the Broadcasters Audience Research Board (Barb))

According to ratings assemblage Barb, Strictly Come Dancing's Christmas Special was the 2nd biggest occurrence of the day, with 5.44 cardinal viewers tuning successful to ticker Coronation Street prima Alexandra Mardell assistance the peculiar trophy based connected a Christmas star.

This year's festive soap conflict saw EastEnders travel retired connected apical successful eighth place. Soap histrion Danny Dyer drew successful 3.17 cardinal viewers who tuned successful to ticker him permission Albert Square aft 9 years of playing Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter.

The adjacent most-watched soap of Christmas Day was ITV's Coronation Street, which came successful ninth spot with 2.85 cardinal viewers. But Emmerdale wholly missed retired connected a spot successful the Top 10.

ITV's best-performing programme, contempt a precocious clip slot, was Doc Martin with 3.26 cardinal viewers.

But the BBC secured the apical six most-watched programmes including its shared screening of the King's Christmas message.

Chief contented serviceman Charlotte Moore said: "Winning the Christmas Day ratings caps disconnected an unthinkable centenary twelvemonth of world-class contented connected the BBC. In a clip of truthful overmuch contention and choice, the BBC continues to beryllium the UK's amusement destination connected Christmas Day."