BBC’s Strictly special was the most popular show on Christmas Day in 2023 with 5.3 million viewers (excluding The King’s Christmas broadcast).

BBC dominated the ratings with nine out of the top ten most watched shows as audiences chose the BBC across the day for a spectacular range of new episodes of their favourite shows, and the figures will grow as viewers catch up on iPlayer.

BBC One was by far the biggest channel on the day, over double the next-biggest competitor with over 27% of broadcast viewing. It saw its highest share since 2019 (Gavin & Stacey), and was also higher than any other year since 2010. BBC One was also bigger than the whole SVOD market combined on Christmas Day on TV.

Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer says : “Bringing people together at Christmas matters to audiences and securing nine of the top ten shows demonstrates how much they value the BBC’s Christmas Day line-up. We entertained viewers in their millions on Christmas Day with a range of quality programmes you really can’t find anywhere else to wrap up an outstanding year of creative content on the BBC.”

1. The King’s Christmas Broadcast
   BBC One
   5.9m

2. Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special
   BBC One
   5.3m

3. Doctor Who
   BBC One
   4.7m

4. Ghosts Christmas Special
   BBC One
   4.4m

5. Call the Midwife
   BBC One
   4.4m

6. Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Wheel
   BBC One
   4.2m

7. EastEnders
   BBC One
   3.6m

8. Toy Story 4
   BBC One
   3.5m

9. The 1% Club
   ITV
   3.4m

10. Tabby McTat
    BBC One
    3.3m

It was also BBC One’s strongest Christmas Eve broadcast share in a decade (since 2013).