King’s speech tops xmas day ratings 2025 (UK)

[Englishboy]

The king’s speech has topped the xmas day ratings with 6.5 million viewers.

Other ratings winners of the day were Strictly Come Dancing with 4.3 million and the Gladiators christmas special which garnered 3.2 million.

Eastenders was the most watched soap of the day managing an audience of 2.8 million viewers.

CHRISTMAS DAY RATINGS 2025, MOST WATCHED PROGRAMMES REVEALED AS BBC DOMINATES SCHEDULES

The most watched TV shows on Christmas Day 2025 have been revealed.20251. The King (BBC One) - 4.6m2. The Scarecrows' Wedding (BBC One) - 4.4m3. Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One) - 4.3m4. Michael McIntyre's The Wheel (BBC One) - 3.7m5. Call The Midwife (BBC One) - 3.4m6. Gladiators (BBC One) -...

www.tvzoneuk.com

 

[Englishboy]

1. The King (BBC, ITV, BBC News and Sky News) 6.56m (not including other channels)
2. The Scarecrows' Wedding 4.31m
3. Strictly Come Dancing 4.24m
4. Michael McIntyre's The Wheel 3.71m
5. Call the Midwife 3.44m
6. Gladiators 3.16m
7. Amandaland 3.05m
8. EastEnders 2.85m
9. The 1% Club 2.75m
10. The Weakest Link 2.63m

 

[Barbara Fan]

I watched only 1 show from Top 20 list on Catch up / Great British bake off

Gone are the days of 20 million for Morecambe and Wise and OFAH

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I watched two out of the Top Ten. Or four out of the Top Twenty.

The King (BBC One) - 4.6m
The Scarecrows' Wedding (BBC One) - 4.4m
The Great Christmas Bake Off (Channel 4) - 2.1m
Home Alone 2 (Channel 4) - 1.4m

Gone are the days of 20 million for Morecambe and Wise and OFAH

Yes. 2.2 million is possibly really good for EastEnders today, but it's difficult not to think about that legendary 1986 Christmas Day episode watched by 30 million people.

Films have been particularly disappointing this year. Even if the standard channels can't compete with the likes of Netflix, would a big premiere after The King or in the evening be too much to ask instead of wall -to-wall films that have been airing since the Eighties and Nineties?

 

[Barbara Fan]

would a big premiere after The King or in the evening be too much to ask instead of wall -to-wall films that have been airing since the Eighties and Nineties?

Id be disappointed if there wasnt The Great Escape - every bank holiday!! or combination of Death on the Nile, Evil under the sun shown!!

 

[Englishboy]

The xmas day Corrie audience of 1.9 million merely serves to underline the continuing decline in the popularity of this serial.

No programme can last forever and whilst I will be sad to see it go when it does end I think with ratings this low its days are surely numbered.

 

[Barbara Fan]

The xmas day Corrie audience of 1.9 million merely serves to underline the continuing decline in the popularity of this serial.

No programme can last forever and whilst I will be sad to see it go when it does end I think with ratings this low its days are surely numbered.

I havent watched Corrie in such a long time and feel that when Ken Barlow / William Roache and Rita / Barbara Knox pass there is nothing to keep you nostalgic about the early years of the show

The last time i saw Corrie i barely knew who half the cast were and David, Carla and Roy were about the only ones who could act

The last proper episode I watched was Gail leaving last year and that was a damp squib!

I cant stand EE and never watched Emmerdale - but they all look as if they are on a downward trend as peoples viewing habits change and how we watch TV has changed.

 

[Angela Channing]

Only 3 years ago, the monarch's speech was getting an audience of over 10 million so the downward trend in viewers continues.

 

[Rove]

and whilst I will be sad to see it go when it does end I think with ratings this low its days are surely numbered

When I was recently on holidays I had access to Coronation Street and Eastenders. It doesn't surprise me both soaps are in decline as the writing was dreadful and the acting woeful. To be honest I haven't seen both for years so didn't know half the characters and those I did should be retired. And why are the writers intent on having every character miserable. In real life I give those type a wide berth.

 

[Barbara Fan]

It doesn't surprise me both soaps are in decline as the writing was dreadful and the acting woeful. To be honest I haven't seen both for years

I remember in 2003 I went to NZ and watched Corrie there, as NZ was a good bit behind UK - it was the start of Richard Hillman making Audrey look forgetful and plotting to get her house / starting his campaign against the Platts and it was so exciting as I knew what was to come and it was nice to watch the start of his shady doings - Corrie was such a great watch in 70s - early 2000s

I feel its a shadow of its former self and totally agree with your comments on writing and acting

 

[Ryan Connor]

The xmas day Corrie audience of 1.9 million merely serves to underline the continuing decline in the popularity of this serial.

No programme can last forever and whilst I will be sad to see it go when it does end I think with ratings this low its days are surely numbered.

The ITV soaps fair badly at Christmas, as a rule BBC One is the default channel on the day. Emmerdale's ratings were even lower on Christmas Day. But in "normal" ratings pre Christmas Corrie was again hitting 4 million which is good to see. Whether this will carry on next week when the soaps have their new slots we will have to wait and see.

The BBC have got their own back on ITV by putting Traitors' against their soaps Wednesday-Friday.

 

[Englishboy]

I havent watched Corrie in such a long time and feel that when Ken Barlow / William Roache and Rita / Barbara Knox pass there is nothing to keep you nostalgic about the early years of the show

Also, I think it’s fair to say that both Rita and Ken are criminally under used by the storyliners.

In 2025, Barbara Knox appeared in just 28 episodes - the fewest number of any cast member.

Bill Roache only fared a little better with 33 appearances to his name.

To put this dilution into context, the most utilised character (Lisa Swain) appeared in 185 episodes over the same period.

Also, when Ken and Rita are in it, it tends to be for one scene only rather than them being centre stage and integral to the show