Sitcoms are up with the soaps

Comedy proved a big ratings draw this Christmas – with BBC One sitcoms taking the top two slots on December 24.

Outnumbered was the top-rated show on Christmas Eve, peaking at 9.1million viewers – more than any of the soaps.

And Mrs Brown’s Boys also proved a hit, drawing a maximum of 8.9 million viewers.That was the same as EastEnders and 100,000 more than the Coronation Street peak.

But taking the average audience, rather than the peak, Coronation Street came top of the chart, with Mrs Brown’s Boys No 2.

On Christmas Day, the Royle Family scored an impressive 7.68million viewers, making it the third-most watched show of the day after EastEnders (9.4million) and Coronation Street (8.58million)

Published: 26 Dec 2012