King's first Christmas message tops TV ratings

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