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On Christmas Day, the King’s annual Christmas Broadcast emerged as the most viewed television programme in the UK, according to overnight viewing figures. Nearly seven million people across multiple channels, including the BBC, ITV, Sky News, and GB News, tuned in to watch King Charles deliver his seasonal address, which was recorded this year at Westminster Abbey. The broadcast attracted more viewers than any other Christmas special throughout the day.
Following the King’s message, the animated adaptation of *The Scarecrows’ Wedding*, shown on BBC One, was the next most popular programme with an audience of 4.3 million. This production is based on the picture book created by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, the authors behind *The Gruffalo*. Notably, the official ratings represent overnight viewership figures and exclude those who watched the shows later on catch-up platforms.
During his speech, King Charles invoked the spirit of resilience reminiscent of wartime, encouraging people to foster connections with their neighbours and to uphold the values that have historically united communities during times of hardship. It is important to note that the reported viewing figures do not account for those who watched the broadcast on non-traditional platforms such as Sky Showcase or Sky Mix HD.
The Christmas Special of *Strictly Come Dancing*, hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman for the final time together, placed third in the ratings, drawing an audience of 4.2 million. The pair closed the show with their signature phrase, “keep dancing!”, with Winkleman expressing heartfelt thanks to viewers, saying the audience “meant a world to us.” Meanwhile, *EastEnders* experienced a decline in viewership, with its first of two Christmas Day episodes watched by 2.85 million, ranking eighth overall, while the second episode did not reach the top 10. Other popular soaps such as *Coronation Street* and *Emmerdale* also failed to secure a spot in the top ten for their Christmas Day editions.
Among the top ten most-watched programmes on Christmas Day, nine were BBC productions, demonstrating the broadcaster’s dominance during the holiday. ITV’s quiz show *The 1% Club*, hosted by Lee Mack, appeared in ninth place with 2.75 million viewers. Reflecting on the viewing trends, BBC’s chief content officer Kate Phillips remarked that the audience figures serve as “a timely reminder that shared moments really do still matter even in a world of so much choice.”
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