Revealed: The most watched programmes on Christmas Day

The King’s speech was essentially the most watched programme on Christmas Day, with 7.8milion individuals tuning in throughout six channels. 

The 10-minute Christmas Broadcast attracted 5.9m viewers on BBC One and 716,000 on ITV.

While nonetheless essentially the most watched programme of the day, it attracted far fewer viewers than final 12 months when a record-breaking 10.6m tuned in to listen to Charles’s reflections on the dying of the late Queen in his first handle as monarch.   

The BBC’s programmes took 9 out of the highest ten most-watched slots and for the primary time in a long time ITV’s flagship cleaning soap opera, Coronation Street, didn’t function on the checklist. 

Only ITV1’s One Percent Club Christmas Special, a big-money sport present hosted by the comic Lee Mack, made it to the highest ten – coming in ninth.

Strictly Come Dancing got here second within the rankings as round 5.3m viewers tuned in to BBC One to look at EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick, 29, win the festive glitterball together with his dance with skilled Nancy Xu, 32.

Including the King’s Speech and Strictly, the BBC had 9 of the day’s most-watched reveals with different prime reveals together with Doctor Who, which had its first Christmas Day particular since 2017.

The episode, which got here in third within the rankings and averaged 4.7m viewers, noticed Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa, 31, make his first full look because the fifteenth Time Lord.

Other prime BBC One reveals included the Ghosts Christmas Special (4.43m viewers) in fourth place, Call The Midwife (4.39m) in fifth, Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Wheel (4.17m) in sixth and EastEnders (3.58m) in seventh.

Eighth on the highest 10 most considered reveals was Toy Story Four, aired on BBC One, ninth was ITV’s sole prime ten present – The One Percent Club – and tenth was the kids’s programme, Tabby McTat, once more on BBC One.

EastEnders got here in unexpectedly low on the rankings as quantity seven, contemplating it noticed the disclosing of the killer in a homicide plotline which had been operating since earlier this 12 months. The present’s late night time slot at 9.45pm is blamed for its decrease viewing figures.

In his annual festive handle to the nation, Charles hailed the methods communities come collectively in occasions of hassle, each internationally and at dwelling.

And he highlighted the nation’s ‘selfless military’ of volunteers, describing them because the ‘spine’ of the nation and highlighting their vital half in his coronation. 

As if to stress his message of peace and reconciliation, the King prolonged an invite to his former sister-in-law, the Duchess of York, to affix the Royal Family and stroll to church at Sandringham yesterday morning for the primary time in additional than 30 years.

And Sarah – affectionately referred to as Fergie – proved a success with the crowds on the royal property in Norfolk, enthusiastically gathering armfuls of flowers and presents on behalf of Charles and Camilla, even hugging a favorite photographer.

She was amongst round 30 members of the Royal Family spending the festive season on the monarch’s Norfolk property who yesterday loved locally-bred natural turkey for lunch.

In his second Christmas handle as monarch, the King highlighted his acquainted inexperienced message, simply weeks after giving the headline speech on the COP28 local weather change convention.

Proving he’s discovering methods to adapt a lifetime of environmental campaigning to his new function as monarch, Charles burdened the necessity to ‘take care of the Earth for the sake of our youngsters’s kids’.

Standing by a ‘dwelling Christmas tree’, which can later be replanted, coated with environmentally-friendly decorations, he stated: ‘To take care of this creation is a duty owned by individuals of all faiths and of none.

‘We take care of the Earth for the sake of our youngsters’s kids.

‘During my lifetime I’ve been so happy to see a rising consciousness of how we should shield the Earth and our pure world because the one dwelling which all of us share.

‘I discover nice inspiration now from the way in which so many individuals recognise this – as does the Christmas story, which tells us that angels introduced the message of hope first to shepherds.

‘These have been individuals who lived merely amongst others of God’s creatures. Those near nature have been privileged that evening.’

The broadcast, made this 12 months by ITV, featured footage from environmental occasions through the King’s state go to to Kenya in November.

This speech was additionally woven with references to his coronation in May, from the placement it was filmed in – the Centre Room at Buckingham Palace, overlooking the balcony from which he and Queen Camilla greeted to the crowds in The Mall – to the nationwide anthem, carried out by British Army Musicians from the Households Division of the Symphonic Brass.

They not solely carried out on the coronation but additionally on the King’s first official Birthday Parade in June and his Coronation Concert at Windsor.

Several clips of footage from the Coronation weekend’s occasions featured closely, displaying Charles, Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three kids.

The King included footage of all senior working royals in his ten-minute handle: the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal. 

Harry and Meghan, who stood down as working royals and moved to North America in 2020, didn’t function.

The Sussexes’ assaults on Harry’s household have induced a deep and painful rift, though Charles did obtain a name from his youngest son on his seventy fifth birthday in November.

The King stated in his message that he was moved to see how occasions such because the coronation, highlighted the way in which by which communities up and down the nation take care of one another, significantly by means of volunteering.

To mark his accession, Queen Camilla spearheaded the Coronation Champions Awards with the Royal Voluntary Service, backed by the Daily Mail, to have fun and recognise inspiring volunteers who’ve made an distinctive distinction of their communities.

He stated this spirit of togetherness was significantly noteworthy at Christmas, whether or not persons are of a spiritual persuasion or not, saying: ‘For some, religion will likely be uppermost of their hearts. For others, it will likely be the enjoyment of fellowship and the giving of presents.

‘It can also be a time once we bear in mind those that are not with us and assume additionally of these whose work of caring for others continues, even on this special occasion.’

The King additionally highlighted the price of dwelling disaster. He has arrange the Coronation Food Project to sort out by serving to distribute surplus meals.

He stated: ‘Over this previous 12 months my coronary heart has been warmed by numerous examples of the imaginative methods by which persons are caring for each other – going the additional mile to assist these round them just because they know it’s the proper factor to do, at work and at dwelling, inside and throughout communities.

‘My spouse and I have been delighted when lots of of representatives of that selfless military of individuals – volunteers who serve their communities in so some ways and with such distinction – have been in a position to be part of us in Westminster Abbey for the coronation earlier this 12 months.

‘They are an important spine of our society. Their presence meant a lot to us each and emphasised the which means of coronation itself – above all, a name to us all to serve each other, to like and take care of all.

‘Service additionally lies on the coronary heart of the Christmas story – the beginning of Jesus who got here to serve the entire world, displaying us by his personal instance easy methods to love our neighbour as ourselves.

‘Throughout the 12 months, my household have witnessed how individuals of all ages are making a distinction to their communities.

‘This is all of the extra vital at a time of actual hardship for a lot of, when we have to construct on current methods to help others much less lucky than ourselves.’

Unsurprisingly, Charles’ ideas additionally turned to conflicts overseas, notably the continuing navy wrestle of the individuals of Ukraine and the present preventing in Israel and Gaza, the place he has tried to deliver individuals of all faiths collectively.

He stated: ‘At a time of more and more tragic battle all over the world, I pray that we are able to additionally do all in our energy to guard one another.

‘The phrases of Jesus appear greater than ever related: ‘Do to others as you’ll have them do to you.’

‘Such values are common, drawing collectively our Abrahamic household of religions, and different perception techniques, throughout the Commonwealth and wider world.

‘They remind us to think about ourselves within the footwear of our neighbours, and to hunt their good as we might our personal.’

A dedicated Christian and head of the Church of England like his late mom, the King closed his speech on a spiritual observe.

He stated his ‘coronary heart and my thanks’ go to all who’re serving and caring for each other, ‘not least the good friend we don’t but know’.

And he concluded: ‘In this fashion, we deliver out the perfect in ourselves. I want you a Christmas of ‘peace on Earth and goodwill to all’, as we speak and all the time.’

The King’s great-grandfather, George V, started the custom of Christmas Day broadcasts in 1932.

Queen Elizabeth recorded 70 messages, first on the radio and, from 1967, on tv.