BBC wins rating battle over UK rivals

The BBC topped this year’s Christmas ratings battle in Britain, according to new figures released today.

EastEnders took the title for most popular Christmas Day soap with 12.3 million viewers tuning in compared to 11.3 million who watched Coronation Street on ITV1.

Around 7.5 million people watched ITV1’s Emmerdale while tucking into their Christmas turkey.

BBC1’s The Vicar Of Dibley was the top comedy of the day with an audience of 11.8 million beating the Absolutely Fabulous Christmas Special into second place with 6.6 million viewers.

The smash-hit movie Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone on BBC1 attracted an audience of 7.9 million people.

Around 6.3 million fans switched to ITV1 to watch John Nettles in Midsomer Murders and 5.1 million stayed with the channel to see Michael Parkinson’s chat show at 10.30pm.