Christmas Day TV ratings as explosive EastEnders episode beaten by Strictly

26 December 2023 , 11:36

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Christmas Day TV ratings as explosive EastEnders episode beaten by Strictly

The TV ratings are in for Christmas Day, with some unlikely contenders managing to beat the most anticipated episode of EastEnders in years.

Despite leaving fans on the edge of their seats with the action-packed episode, which saw Keanu Taylor brutally stabbed in the back in a huge twist, the late timing of the episode at 9.45pm may have had an impact on viewership.

The BBC soap placed seventh on the most-watched list of Christmas Day, with 3.8million tuning in to watch the tense scenes, according to BARB ratings. Figures are up from last year's 3.2million, which placed them eighth on ratings.

The King's Speech proved to be the most popular, with 7.48million viewers, down from last year's 8.1million. The second most watched was Strictly at 5.29million (down from last year's 5.4million), then Doctor Who at 4.73million, Ghosts at 4.43million and Call The Midwife at 4.39million.

The King's Speech was the most-watched programme on TV on Christmas Day (Victoria Jones/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Inching in front of EastEnders was Michael McIntyre's The Wheel at 4.17million, while Toy Story 4 saw 3.46million viewers tune in. Lee Mack's The 1% Club was the most watched ITV show at 3.36million.

EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness

Full list of top 10 TV programmes on Christmas Day:

1. The King 7.48m
2. Strictly 5.29m
3. Doctor Who 4.73m
4. Ghosts 4.43m
5. Call The Midwife 4.39m
6. Michael McIntyre's Christmas Wheel 4.17m
7. EastEnders 3.58m
8. Toy Story 4 - 3.46m
9. The 1% Club 3.36m
10. Tabby McTat 3.35m

In an explosive episode full of red herrings and revelations that had EastEnders fans hailing it as legendary, the six united at the pub as they confronted Nish Panesar at the Queen Vic last night. After he tried to drag wife Suki outside by her hair, the women tried to yank him off her before Denise smashed a bottle over his head. As he lay bleeding on the floor, they all looked on in shock as Sharon knelt down and felt his pulse and confirmed that he was dead.

However, Keanu interrupted the scene in a stupor, having been ditched at the altar by Sharon after Phil exposed Keanu for kidnapping Albie. In a furious confrontation at the church, Sharon finally revealed that his son wasn't actually his - it was Phil's.

At the pub, Keanu furiously lashed out at Sharon for keeping his son away from him, going on to brutally strangle her in front of the other women. In a shocking moment, Linda grabbed a carving fork and stabbed Keanu in the back. As he collapsed, Suki rushed in to tell them the good news that Nish wasn't actually dead and she had revived him - only to discover that Keanu was dead. But is Keanu really dead...?

Ashleigh Rainbird