Together with the final episodes of sitcom Men Behaving Badly, the soap helped the BBC beat ITV across the five days from Christmas Eve to Bank Holiday Monday.

The BBC took seven places in the top ten, with the other three places being taken by ITV's Coronation Street.

Monday's EastEnders attracted 15.7m viewers. They saw Grant Mitchell - played by Ross Kemp - make a first court appearance for wife Tiffany's attempted murder.

Tiffany, played by Martine McCutcheon, returned to the Sqaure after being in a coma following a near-fatal fall down the stairs of the Queen Victoria. She was arguing with Grant at the time.

Return is short-lived

But Tiffany's return will be short-lived. Her character is about to be written out in a dramatic storyline to enable McCutcheon to concentrate on her singing career.

Second place in the Christmas chart went to Sunday's Coronation Street with 15.1m viewers.

Martin Clunes: Men Behaving Badly signed off in style

Men Behaving Badly pulled in 14m on Monday to watch Gary and Tony (Martin Clunes and Neil Morrissey) finally attempt to grow up, with Gary becoming a father.

The show was the end of a three-part trilogy marking the end of the series which the BBC successfully poached from ITV in 1994. But the corporation says Gary and Tony may still be back on screen.

"We never say never," said a BBC spokeswoman. "They may be back for specials. People have got to know the shows and to love the characters."

BBC One controller Peter Salmon said: "The range and quality of our programming was our Christmas present to the audience and we're delighted the viewers' vote has gone to BBC One."

The figures do not take into account people who recorded shows for later viewing.

The Top Ten Christmas shows were:

1. EastEnders (Monday) 15.7m.

2. Coronation Street (Sunday) 15.1m.

3. Men Behaving Badly (Monday) 14m.

4. EastEnders (Christmas Day) 13.9m.

4. Men Behaving Badly (Christmas Day) 13.9m.

6. Coronation Street (Christmas Day) 13.5m.

7. Coronation Street (Monday) 13.3m.

8. Men Behaving Badly (Boxing Day) 13.9m.

9. They Think It's All Over (Christmas Day, BBC One) 12.1m.