Gavin and Stacey helps BBC win Christmas ratings war with 11.6million tuning in

The Gavin and Stacey Christmas special pushed the BBC to the top of the Christmas ratings chart with almost 11.6 million tuning in to watch the show after its return following nearly a decade away from screens.

The Billericay-Barry group scooped up viewers across the UK, almost doubling the amount that tuned in to watch the Queen’s speech.

Fans of the show, which charts married couple Gavin Shipman, played by Mathew Horne and Stacey Shipman, played by Joanna Page, were treated to an hour long episode on Christmas Day at 8.30pm on BBC One.

The comedy comeback garnered the best Christmas TV ratings since 2008. In total it pulled in 12.31 million viewers on all platforms, averaging at 11.6 million. 

Gavin and Stacey made a come back after a decade away from our screens and showed Christmas in Barry with characters such as Nessa and her son Neil (right), Bryn (left) and Gwen (centre)

The show beat the Queen's speech which managed to draw in 7.7 million viewers, the Queen (above during speech) acknowledged the difficulties faced in 2019

The show beat the Queen’s speech which managed to draw in 7.7 million viewers, the Queen (above during speech) acknowledged the difficulties faced in 2019

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special featured Joe Sugg and dance partner Dianne Buswell (above) and raked in 5.5 million viewers

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special featured Joe Sugg and dance partner Dianne Buswell (above) and raked in 5.5 million viewers 

Many were overjoyed to see their favourite cast members and hearts were melted when Nessa Jenkins, played by Ruth Jones, proposed to her on/off love interest Smithy, played by US chat show host, James Cordon.

Speaking to The Sun regarding the cliffhanger proposal, which has left many fans screaming for more, Jones said: ‘It could be ridiculous or it could be a marriage made in heaven’. 

The show has been absent from screens for more than a decade, which could explain its mammoth viewing figures and why it beat the Queen’s broadcast, which was shown on the same channel at 3pm.

Just 6.4 million people tuned in on the BBC to watch the speech and 1.24 million on ITV, where the monarch said ‘small steps’ and not giant leaps bring about the most lasting change in society.

The 93-year-old also acknowledged that 2019 had been ‘quite bumpy’.

Last year’s figures from Barb showed that 7.3 million people had tuned in to watch the Queen’s speech in 2018.

The drop in figures could be down to the turbulent year the royal family has faced in light of Prince Andrew’s appearance on Newsnight and Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s bumper ITV documentary, which saw the young royals take on an African tour. 

Other shows to top the charts included the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, which aired on BBC One at 4.40pm and raked in 5.5 million viewers.

The shows landing in the top ten of Christmas TV crackers 

1. Gavin and Stacey, BBC One – 11.6m

2. The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast, BBC One – 6.4m, 1.24 – ITV

3. Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, BBC One – 5.5m

4. Eastenders, BBC One – 5.5m

5. Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Show, BBC One – 5.2m

6. Call the Midwife Christmas Special, BBC One –  5.2m

7. Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Special, BBC One – 4.6m

8. Coronation Street, ITV – 4.5m

9. Emmerdale, ITV, 4.5m

10. Finding Dory, BBC One, 4m 

Widow of magician Paul Daniels, Debbie McGee was crowned the winner with her professional dancing partner Kevin Clifton.

The pair scored 40 points for a ski-themed quickstep to Jingle Bells. McGee won the final in 2017 and said afterwards that she ‘hadn’t expected to win’ the Christmas show.

Other contestants included former The Only Way is Essex star Mark Wright, Joe Sugg and Richard Arnold.

Away from the glitz and glamour of the Strictly dance floor and 5.5 million fans of the BBC’s biggest soap Eastenders tuned in at 9.30pm to watch the affair between Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean) and Keanu Taylor’s (Danny Walters) come to light.

The drama continued as Sharon was then consequently kicked out of the family home and viewers were left wondering whether or not Keanu had been left for dead. 

Hooked viewers were also treated to a Boxing Day episode which aired at 9pm yesterday.

Those looking for something a little more light hearted tuned in to Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Show, also on BBC One.

Michael McIntyre's Big Christmas Show managed to scoop 5.2 million viewers on Christmas Day

Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Show managed to scoop 5.2 million viewers on Christmas Day

5.2 million tuned in at 6pm on Christmas Day to watch the comedian prank superstars such as Sharon Osbourne, who plays game ‘send to all’ where Michael send s text message to those in the contacts book of a celebrity. 

Period drama Call the Midwife also made a return for the festive season and was shown on BBC One at 7pm.

The episode is set during Christmas time as a bout of influenza sweeps through Nonnatus House and the Turner family.

When Mother Mildred, played by Miriam Margolyes, says that God is calling her to set up in the Outer Hebrides, it seems a good opportunity for the nuns to set up in Scotland.  

Period drama Call the Midwife also made a return for the festive season and was shown on BBC One at 7pm

Period drama Call the Midwife also made a return for the festive season and was shown on BBC One at 7pm

5.2 million tuned in to see an appearance from much loved character Nurse Trixie Franklin, played by Helen George, who has been in the show since day one.

Another ratings win for the BBC came in the form of comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys which scooped 4.6 million viewers.

The show aired at 10.30pm on Christmas Day, with Brendan O’Carroll’s drag sitcom drawing in it’s loyal viewers, which have been watching the show since in first came to screens in 2011.

The episode was one of two in a festive special, with another to be shown on New Year. The Christmas Day episode shows Agnes Browne become infuriated with her family and friends during the festive period. 

With the big success stories coming from the BBC, ITV managed to get just two entrants into the top ten.

Coronation Street garnered 4.5 million viewers and was aired at 8pm for an hour long special.

It saw gun horror make its way to the Manchester street after Fiz Brown, played by Jennie McAlpine, drops off items from a house clearance at the furniture shop, which leads Gary Windass , played by Mikey North, to discover an antique gun which is still live.

On Christmas Day, he finds the gun is missing. 

This is while ITV’s other offering to make it into the top ten, Emmerdale, managed to draw in 4.5 million viewers for the episode which aired at 7.30pm.

The show revealed a controversial plot surrounding Andrew Scarborough’s Graham Foster as he confronts Andrea Tate over whether he’s the biological father of daughter Millie.

However, the episode was criticised by social media users as ‘boring’ after it aired on Christmas Day.

The BBC however, also managed to get another top ten entry after it showed Finding Dory at 1.pm.

Four million people tuned in to watch the sequel to the popular Finding Nemo movie.

Finding Dory charts the journey of Dory and is her origin story. 

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