Street wins festive ratings fight

The Street put EastEnders in the shade on Christmas Day

Coronation Street was the top-rated show on Christmas Day as both the BBC and ITV claimed victory in the Christmas Day ratings battle.

Unoffical overnight figures show a strong performance by ITV, which had seven of the top ten highest-rated programmes during prime-time and pushed the BBC's big film, Titanic, into sixth place.

Early ratings

1. Coronation Street (ITV - 13.7m)

2. EastEnders part two (BBC - 12.1m)

3. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? part two (ITV - 11.1m)

4. ITV Nightly News (10.8m)

5. EastEnders part one (BBC - 10.1m)

6. Titanic (BBC - 9.9m)

7. Millionaire part one (ITV - 9.6m)

8. Emmerdale (ITV - 9.3m)

9. You've Been Framed (ITV - 9.3m)

10. The Royle Family (BBC - 8.3m)

Leading the Christmas Day pack was Coronation Street, with 13.7 million viewers - beating two dramatic episodes of BBC One's EastEnders.

ITV is claiming its first Christmas Day victory since 1984, after scooping a 40.2% share of viewers during peak time, compared with 39.8% for BBC One.

But the corporation said that overall, it took a 36% share of viewers, compared to ITV's 33%, during all of Christmas Day.

A BBC spokesman added that the preliminary viewing figures could change when programmes taped on video were taken into account.

Meanwhile, cable and satellite channels increased their share from 10.5% last year to 15% this year, as viewers opted out of traditional Christmas Day fare.

Even during peak viewing hours, 10.9% of viewers were watching something other than the five main terrestrial channels - up from 6.9% last year.

The Queen's speech attracted 9.8 million viewers on both BBC One and ITV - 700,000 less than last year.

BBC One hoped Titanic would steam ahead

An ITV spokesman said: "We are delighted that ITV's blend of home-grown family entertainment programming was a winner with viewers on Christmas night.

"At the end of its 40th year, it is fitting that Coronation Street was the most popular programme on Christmas Day."

BBC One controller Lorraine Heggessey said: "I'm delighted most viewers chose to share their Christmas Day with BBC One, but success is not just about ratings.

"It's about a rich and varied schedule that all generations can enjoy together, showcasing the best of British talent on and off screen."

She said BBC One and ITV had both provided "something for everyone", adding: "It's only when both channels are strong that the viewer really wins."