Queen's speech is the most viewed programme on Christmas day

The royal speech beat Call the Midwife and Strictly

The Queen's speech
(Image credit: PA Images)

The Queen's speech was the most viewed TV programme on Christmas day, beating BBC One favourite Call the Midwife.

·     The Queen gave her annual speech this year, praising the "quiet, indomitable
     spirit" of the British public.

·      The Christmas day speech pulled in 8.2 million viewers, while Call the Midwife
      had 5.4 million - according to a TV insider.

·      This follows the royal news that Meghan and Harry donated to a New Zealand-
       based charity - on behalf of son Archie.

During her speech, the Queen reflected on 2020 and the acts of kindness and heroism in this 'extraordinary year.'

She said: “In the United Kingdom and around the world, people have risen magnificently to the challenges of the year, and I am so proud and moved by this quiet, indomitable spirit.” 

Addressing the nation from Windsor Castle the Queen went on to praise the NHS for all their hard work this year.

The speech, which aired on Christmas Day, at 3pm on BBC One, was watched by over half a million more people than last year's speech.

Editor of Deadline Jake Kantar took to Twitter to reveal the TV statistics - highlighting how this year's speech was watched by 8.2 million. He also revealed last year's most-viewed programmes on Christmas day, with Gavin and Stacey, at 11.5 million viewers, taking the top slot and the Queen's speech and Strictly in second and third place.

This year Call The Midwife also had 5.4 million viewers, while game show Blankety Blank came in third with 5.3 million viewers, while BBC's Strictly came in fourth and the Wheel was fifth. 

Sarah Finley

Sarah is a freelance journalist - writing about the royals and celebrities for Woman & Home, fitness and beauty for the Evening Standard and how the world of work has changed due to the pandemic for the BBC. 

 

She also covers a variety of other subjects and loves interviewing leaders and innovators in the beauty, travel and wellness worlds for numerous UK and overseas publications. 

 

As a journalist, she has written thousands of profile pieces - interviewing CEOs, real-life case studies and celebrities - interviewing everyone from Emma Bunton to the founder of Headspace.