Catch-up viewing brings ratings to 17million – making it the biggest scripted TV show of the 2010s

The final viewing figures are in for Gavin & Stacey – and they make the Christmas special the UK's most-watched scripted TV programme of the 2010s.

A total of 11.6 million viewers watched on Christmas day, but now the consolidated figures – which take into account recording and on-demand views during the subsequent week have raised that number to 17.1million

Only sporting events and the 2010 X Factor final were watched by more people during the past decade.

The figures also make it was the most-watched comedy since Only Fools and Horses in 2002, when 17.4million tuned in.

The BBC said there had been 4.4 million requests for the programme on iPlayer, including 1.4 million from viewers aged 16-34 - a record first week for any episode.

The episode's cliffhanger ending has also led to calls for creators James Corden and Ruth Jones to pen another special or even a series.

BBC director of content Charlotte Moore said: ‘Gavin and Stacey has been a phenomenal hit this Christmas breaking records to become the biggest scripted show of the decade, and the biggest first week for any episode on BBC iPlayer for young audiences ever.’

Gavin and Stacey began on BBC Three in 2001, but this was the first new episode in a decade.

Published: 2 Jan 2020