TELEVISION
Viewership
Most Watched Programmes in the UK
This list features the most viewed television episodes in UK television history based on viewing figures.
RANK | PROGRAMME | SYNOPSIS | VIEWERS | CHANNEL | YEAR |
1 | EastEnders | Den Watts serves his wife Angie with divorce papers. | 30.15 million | BBC1 | 25 December 1986 |
2 | EastEnders | The aftermath of Den Watts serving his wife Angie with divorce papers. | 28.00 million | BBC1 | 1 January 1987 |
3 | Coronation Street | Hilda Ogden leaves Weatherfield. | 26.65 million | ITV (Granada) | 25 December 1987 |
4 | Live Aid | 16-hour concert in Wembley Stadium and John F. Kennedy Stadium for Band Aid. | 24.50 million | BBC1 | 13 July 1985 |
5 | Only Fools and Horses | "Time on Our Hands" | 24.35 million | BBC1 | 29 December 1996 |
6 | EastEnders | Arthur and Pauline Fowler urge their son Mark to tell his sister Michelle that he has HIV. | 24.30 million | BBC1 | 2 January 1992 |
7 | Royal Variety Performance 1965 | Featuring Dame Shirley Bassey, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, and more. | 24.20 million | ITV (ATV) | 14 November 1965 |
8 | EastEnders | Angie Watts suffers a renal shutdown. | 24.15 million | BBC1 | 7 January 1988 |
9 | To the Manor Born | Finale of the first series. | 23.95 million | BBC1 | 11 November 1979 |
10 | Miss World 1967 | Madeline Hartog-Bel (Miss Peru) wins. | 23.76 million | BBC1 | 19 November 1967 |
11 | EastEnders | The aftermath of Den Watts serving his wife Angie with divorce papers. | 23.55 million | BBC1 | 26 December 1986 |
12 | EastEnders | It is revealed that Lisa Shaw shot Phil Mitchell. | 23.18 million | BBC1 | 5 April 2001 |
13 | Panorama | Diana, Princess of Wales interview | 22.78 million | BBC1 | 20 November 1995 |
14 | Royal Variety Performance 1975 | Performers include Bruce Forsyth, Dad's Army and Vera Lynn. | 22.66 million | ITV (ATV) | 16 November 1975 |
15 | This Is Your Life | Lord Mountbatten | 22.22 million | ITV (Thames) | 27 April 1977 |
16 | Sunday Night at the London Palladium | Presented by Jimmy Tarbuck. | 21.89 million | ITV (ATV) | 3 December 1967 |
17 | The Benny Hill Show | "Cinema: The Vintage Years" | 21.67 million | ITV (Thames) | 24 March 1971 |
18 | Dallas | "Who Done It" – Kristin Shepard is revealed to have shot J.R. Ewing. | 21.60 million | BBC1 | 22 November 1980 |
19 | Coronation Street | Ken and Deirdre Barlow finalise their divorce. | 21.60 million | ITV (Granada) | 8 January 1992 |
20 | Eurovision Song Contest 1973 | Staged in Luxembourg City – the UK was represented by Cliff Richard, and the contest was won by Anne-Marie David. | 21.56 million | BBC1 | 7 April 1973 |
References
