The BBC has endured what insiders are calling its most brutal Christmas Day performance in modern history, after millions of viewers abandoned the corporation’s traditional festive line-up.
The Christmas special of Strictly Come Dancing marked the final time Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hosted the show, and pulled in 4.2 million viewers on Christmas Day
First-time entry to the Christmas Day schedule Amandaland pulled in three million viewers – in 2024
Peak viewing figures on December 25 were almost two-thirds lower than last year, with just 4.6 million tuning in for King Charles III’s annual Christmas message — nearly eight million fewer than those who flocked to the long-awaited Gavin and Stacey reunion in 2024.
That special had drawn 12.5 million on the day, with a further ten million watching Wallace & Gromit, pushing both titles beyond the 20-million mark once catch-up figures were included.
This year, however, the story was starkly different.
While the BBC still dominated the festive top-ten chart, its numbers were down across the board — a worrying sign for executives following a year marred by scandals and public controversy.
Former festive giants EastEnders and Call The Midwife both saw sharp declines from 2024, reinforcing fears that fewer Britons are turning on the TV at all on Christmas Day.
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Not one of this year’s top-ten shows came close to last year’s highs. Second-placed The Scarecrow’s Wedding managed just 4.3 million viewers, with Strictly Come Dancing — the Christmas special marking Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly’s final appearance — landing third with 4.2 million.
Call The Midwife placed fourth with 3.4 million, while newcomer Amandaland made a surprise debut in seventh with three million — outperforming even Albert Square.
Despite this, the BBC still occupied nine of the top ten slots, with even its weather forecast beating ITV’s most-watched show, The 1% Club.
Yet commentators have described the results as the corporation’s worst festive showing ever, surpassing even 2006 when its Christmas audience share slumped to 30 per cent — back in a world without Netflix or Amazon to draw viewers away.
That year, its biggest programme, The Vicar Of Dibley, still pulled in 11.4 million. By contrast, this year’s peak of just 4.5 million is a far cry from the BBC’s 1986 heyday, when around 30 million people tuned in to the Christmas edition of EastEnders.
Critics argue the figures are not only part of a long-term decline, but particularly painful after the triumph of Gavin and Stacey just a year ago.
Even the promise of Winkleman and Daly’s Strictly farewell failed to lure audiences back to mainstream TV.
The slump comes as the BBC continues to reel from a wave of scandals — including the decision to air the Boxing Day special of Would I Lie To You? despite allegations against one of its panellists.
Comedian David Walliams was this month dropped by publishers HarperCollins following claims of sexual harassment, which he denies. He had already been criticised earlier this year after making Nazi salutes and a lewd gesture during filming of the festive episode, prompting host Rob Bryant to intervene.
The BBC has confirmed it has no future plans to work with Walliams, but still broadcast the show as scheduled.
Elsewhere, the corporation faces renewed scrutiny over its past links to Russell Brand, who has been charged with further allegations of rape and sexual assault. He has pleaded not guilty to earlier claims.
Just days before Christmas, US President Donald Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC over the editing of a Panorama episode covering his speech on the day of the Capitol riots.
Defending the broadcaster, chief content officer Kate Phillips said:
“We’re proud of the fact that people come together on the BBC at Christmas. Having nine out of the top ten shows on the day is a timely reminder that shared moments still matter, even in a world with so much choice.”
But with festive viewing figures at their lowest in decades, the question remains: has Britain finally switched off from its most traditional Christmas ritual?
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
