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Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 13:00 GMT

EastEnders tops Christmas ratings

Stacey Slater The BBC scored a festive ratings success with nine of the 10 most watched TV programmes on Christmas Day, according to overnight viewing figures.

The second half of an EastEnders double bill was top show - with a peak of 13.9m viewers watching as Stacey and Max's former affair was discovered.

Dr Who was second on 13.8m, while the return of To The Manor Born got 10.1m.

Coronation Street was ITV1's sole Top 10 entry, with a peak of 9.6m, as it went up against Strictly Come Dancing.

CHRISTMAS DAY FIGURES

* BBC One and ITV1 combined
These are each programme's peak ratings, based on unofficial overnight figures

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These initial figures do not include viewers who recorded the programmes to watch at a later date, meaning the actual audiences are likely to be higher when the final totals are released.

It also does not take into account catch-up episodes shown of the major soaps on BBC Three or ITV2 later the same evening.

The second part of an EastEnders double bill, screened at 2000 GMT, saw the aftermath of the revelation that Stacey Branning had an affair with her father-in-law Max in the months before her wedding to husband Bradley.

The double bill was spread across the evening, with the first half at 1820.

ITV1 soap Coronation Street, was the only entry in the top ten most viewed programmes, with 9.6m viewers watching at its peak. The episode saw Kevin Webster attack John Stape after discovering that the teacher was having an affair with his teenage daughter Rosie.

However, a festive edition of Strictly Come Dancing, in which the programme's 2005 winner - cricketer Darren Gough - triumphed with his dance partner, attracted 9.9m viewers.

Meanwhile, the Queen's annual address to the nation attracted a total audience of 7.5m viewers as it marked the 50th anniversary of her first televised Christmas address.

Classic comedy

Her speech was broadcast simultaneously on BBC One and ITV1. It was watched by 5.9m on the former, compared to 1.6m on the latter.

Classic British comedy To The Manor Born returned to the BBC for a one-off Christmas special.

"We were delighted that audiences found so much to enjoy in our line-up of programmes on BBC One"
BBC One acting controller Roly Keating

At its peak 10.1m - 41.8% of the audience share - watched Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles reunite as the aristocratic Audrey fforbes-Hamilton and the dashing, self-made businessman Richard DeVere in a return to the show last seen in 1981.

BBC One acting controller Roly Keating said: "It's heartening to see that the great tradition of Christmas family viewing seems to be alive and well.

"We were delighted that audiences found so much to enjoy in our line-up of programmes on BBC One.

"From the compelling drama of EastEnders to a spectacular Doctor Who and the welcome return of To The Manor Born, this was a Christmas when some of the nation's favourite performers and writers did us all proud."

Another vintage comedy - Dad's Army - pulled in 2.8m viewers at its peak, making it the most watched programme on BBC Two.

But ITV1 soap Emmerdale fared less well, attracting just 6.3m viewers at its peak.

Meanwhile, the Channel 4 programme with the highest rating was Deal or No Deal which was watched by 1.9m people.

And Most Shocking Celebrity Moments of the 90s attracted Five's highest number of viewers, with 1.1m at its peak.




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Related to this story:
Manor reborn for one-off special (30 Oct 07 |  Entertainment )
Kylie takes on Titanic Who role (11 Jul 07 |  Entertainment )
Kylie stars in festive Doctor Who (02 Jul 07 |  Entertainment )
Viewers dismayed at Christmas TV (11 Dec 07 |  Entertainment )
A history of festive soap misery (22 Dec 06 |  Entertainment )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
EastEnders
Doctor Who
Strictly Come Dancing
Coronation Street
Emmerdale
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