It’s almost Christmas and the television schedules are filled with festive specials, with millions expected to tune into the likes of the new Wallace and Gromit film, Doctor Who, Gavin and Stacey and Eastenders.
However, the popularity of streaming means that terrestrial television audiences are a fraction of what they were.
A couple of decades ago, audiences of 20 million people would be the target for television bosses, whereas last year the most-watched programme was The King’s Christmas Broadcast with 5.9 million viewers.
The current system of calculating audiences started in 1981, meaning that accurate figures for the likes of Morcambe and Wise are not available, with various estimates for their legendary 1977 show peaking at 28 million viewers.
Since 1981 though, these are the Christmas Day shows that have had the largest audiences, as compiled by the Press Association.
5. Only Fools and Horses Christmas Special 1992
Yet another festive episode of Only Fools and Horses completes the top 5, with the 1992 special attracting an audience of 20.14 million. Entitled 'Mother Nature's Son', it sees Del struggling to pay the mortgage on the newly-purchased Trotter council flat and having to deal with barrels containing an unknown yellow liquid on the allotment he's inherited from Grandad. 21.14 million saw how he sorted his issues. | Contributed
6. Only Fools and Horses Christmas Special 1989
Only Fools and Horses' dominance continues with its 1989 special, watched by 20.10 million viewers. It saw the Trotter family and their friends head to the Margate seaside, ony to see them become stranded after their coach blows up and then finding the hotel they've booked is less than salubrious. | Contributed
7. Only Fools and Horses Christmas Special 1993
The penultimate entry for the Trotters in this list is the Christmas Day episode of Only Fools and Horses in 1993 entitled 'Fatal Extraction, which had an audience of 19.59 million. The episode saw Del go on a date after Raquel leaves him, only to aquire what he believes to be a stalker. | Contributed
8. Eastenders Christmas Special 1986 (early evening)
The misery of Christmas on Albert Square is always a hit with viewers and Eastenders hit ratings gold in 1986 when 'Dirty' Den handed Angie divorce papers. 19.5 million people watched on at home. | Contributed