Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special wins Christmas Day ratings in 2021

’’Nothing brings the country together at Christmas quite like the BBC, there was something for everyone with the seven most popular programmes across the day that caps off a brilliant year on the BBC celebrating British creativity where we have delivered hits and award winning work and seen huge audiences come to our shows.
— Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer

The BBC’s Christmas Day line-up proved a winning formula once again, taking the top seven spots with brand new specials of viewers favourite shows.

BBC secured eight out of the top ten programmes as audiences turned to the BBC across the day, showcasing an outstanding range of new programmes across drama, comedy and entertainment.

Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer says: “Viewers chose the BBC on Christmas Day and entertained them in their millions with Strictly taking the top spot. Nothing brings the country together at Christmas quite like the BBC, there was something for everyone with the seven most popular programmes across the day that caps off a brilliant year on the BBC celebrating British creativity where we have delivered hits and award-winning work and seen huge audiences come to our shows.

’’It’s these moments, in a time of intense competition, that prove that after 99 years the BBC matters more than ever. We have an ambitious and exciting year ahead in 2022 to mark our centenary year with an unmissable range of world class content that will celebrate and reflect the unique role the BBC continues to play in the lives of audiences across the UK.”

Rank                          Programme                                                      Channel            Millions

  1               The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast                                   BBC One              7.4
  2               Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special                        BBC One              5.8
  3               Call the Midwife                                                                BBC One              4.7
  4               Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Wheel                               BBC One              4.6
  5               Blankety Blank Christmas Special                                   BBC One              4.2
  6               Mary Poppins Returns                                                     BBC One              3.7
  7               Superworm                                                                      BBC One              3.34
  8               Coronation Street                                                            ITV                        3.25
  9               Emmerdale                                                                      ITV                        3
  10             EastEnders                                                                      BBC One              2.9