Good showing for Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel too

The Amandaland Christmas special and Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel made the top ten most popular TV shows on Christmas Day.

Jennifer Saunders guesting alongside her Ab Fab co-star Joanna Lumley drew 3.1million viewers to BBC One last night.

It is considerably better than the 1.9million who watched the first episode in a Wednesday 9pm slot in February – though it is hard to compare Christmas Day figures with normal weekday viewing.

After the 4.6million who watchedThe King’s Christmas broadcast, the animated adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Scarecrows’ Wedding was the most popular show yesterday with 4.3 million viewers.

Nine out of the top ten most watched programmes across the day were on BBC One with the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special seen by 4.2 million and Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel by 3.7 million.

The only ITV show in the top ten was The 1% Club, as fronted by Lee Mack, which drew 2.7 million and made No 9.

Kate Phillips, BBC’s chief content officer 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 Christmas Day is a timely reminder that shared moments really do still matter even in a world of so much choice. It’s the BBC’s unique range of programmes that sets us apart.’

The figures are significantly down on the top programmes last Christmas, when Gavin & Stacey’s finale was seen by 12.3million and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl attracted an audience of 9.4million.  

1. The King’s Speech – 4.6 million
2. The Scarecrows’ Wedding – 4.3 million
3. Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special – 4.2 million
4. Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel – 3.7 million
5. Call the Midwife – 3.4 million
6. Gladiators Christmas Special – 3.2 million
7. Amandaland Christmas Special – 3.1million
8. EastEnders – 2.8 million
9. The 1% Club – 2.7 million
10. The Weakest Link – 2.6 million

Published: 26 Dec 2025