TV since 1981

January 2025 update: Programmes reported using As Viewed reporting. This captures viewing in both TV and non-TV homes; includes viewing within seven days of a programme’s launch and up to 35 days of pre-broadcast viewing; repeat transmissions aired within the same reporting week and by the same broadcaster group are now aggregated.


Pre-2025: Programmes reported using As Broadcast reporting. This captured viewing in TV homes only; included viewing within seven days of a programme’s launch and up to 35 days of pre-broadcast viewing; reported repeat transmissions separately.

Rank Programme Date Channel TV Set (millions) PC (thousands) Tablets (thousands) Smartphone (thousands) Four-screen total (millions)
1 The Celebrity Traitors: Series 1, Episode 9 06 Nov 2025 BBC 14.30 240 216 187 14.94
2 New Year's Eve Fireworks: Series 2025 31 Dec 2025 BBC 10.79 48 43 46 10.93
3 I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!: Series 25, Episode 1 16 Nov 2025 ITV 9.55 277 175 201 10.21
4 The Traitors: Series 3, Episode 12 24 Jan 2025 BBC 9.57 169 119 131 9.98
5 Women's Euro Final 2025: England v Spain 27 Jul 2025 BBC + ITV 9.58 77 62 100 9.82
6 Strictly Come Dancing: Series 23, Episode 25 20 Dec 2025 BBC 8.35 46 59 32 8.49
7 Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell 01 Jan 2025 BBC 7.70 72 78 88 7.94
8 Call the Midwife: Series 14, Episode 2 12 Jan 2025 BBC 7.21 37 63 38 7.34
9 The Great British Bake Off: Series 16, Episode 1 02 Sep 2025 Channel 4 7.11 55 64 36 7.26
10 Eurovision Song Contest 2025: Grand Final 17 May 2025 BBC 6.95 67 35 37 7.09

Those seeking to replicate historic Barb programme figures via contemporary analysis tools should bear in mind that a number of factors may mean figures do not match exactly. These include, but are not limited to: changes to data included in logs by companies that submit broadcast logs, the advent of +1 channels, the inclusion of HD viewing with SD viewing to a channel, changes to the definition of the viewing day, log amendments, data re-issues and the addition of viewing from PCs, tablets and smartphones (September 2018).