RTÉ scores with Christmas viewers

NINE of the top 10 rated programmes on Christmas Day were broadcast by RTÉ, the station said yesterday, with Pat Shortt’s Killinaskully once again topping the festive TV polls.

In the prime post-9pm Christmas evening slot, 57.3% of television viewers were watching RTÉ, with award-winning movie, Inside I’m Dancing, capturing a sizeable share on RTÉ 2.

Quoting figures from AGB Nielsen Media Research, an RTÉ spokesperson said yesterday that Killinaskully “proved once again to be a huge hit with viewers”, as the top-rated programme on Christmas Day.

The comedy, starring Pat Shortt in a variety of roles, attracted an average audience of 772,000 for its festive special.

Soap favourites like EastEnders and Fair City also pulled in large figures for the state broadcaster, with 677,000 and 545,000 respectively. RTÉ’s Christmas Day movie, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, attracted 461,000 viewers — about 31% of the available audience.

Other programmes in the Christmas Day top ten were RTÉ News, which attracted 609,000 viewers, and Shrek the Halls, with an audience of 492,000.

“RTÉ also proved to be the firm favourite with viewers on both Christmas Eve and St Stephen’s Day, with seven of the top ten programmes broadcast on RTÉ Television on both days,” said the spokesperson yesterday.

RTÉ’s Six One News on Christmas Eve attracted 458,000 viewers while Carols for Christmas, hosted by Mary Kennedy on RTÉ One, and The Polar Express on RTÉ Two, pulled in a combined audience of 559,000 viewers, equating to 45% of the available audience.

On St Stephen’s Day, Fair City was the most watched programme of the day in Ireland, attracting 578,000 viewers.