Christmas day TV ratings battles sees unlikely show beat explosive soap storylines
SOAPS EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale were beaten in the Christmas Day ratings by sitcom Ghosts.
Official figures show 3.8million watched Enders on BBC One, with ITV rivals Emmerdale and Corrie both peaking at 2.6million viewers.
But the festive special of Ghosts, the series finale, was seen by 4.4million.
In its 1986 prime, EastEnders was watched by 30million people on Christmas Day.
Viewers of the BBC soap saw Linda murder Keanu Taylor by stabbing him in the back while saving her best pal Sharon Watts.
Corrie's Christmas special saw long-running character Peter Barlow, played by Chris Gascoyne, leave the Cobbles for good.
Changing viewing habits have seen those numbers for the big soaps steadily decline over the years.
The most watched programme on Monday was the King’s Christmas Broadcast, with a total of 7.4million people watching on all channels at its peak.
Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas Special drew 5.6million viewers, while 5.2million people watched the animated version of Julia Donaldson’s Tabby McTatt.
Meanwhile, 4.8million saw Michael McIntyre’s Christmas Wheel, while Doctor Who was watched by 4.7million
Call the Midwife was watched by 4.6million people, movie Toy Story 4 had 3.7million viewers and quiz show The 1% Club was seen by 3.5million.
