The X Factor dominated the television ratings throughout December, attracting highs of more than 16.6 million average viewers for ITV1 during Saturday and Sunday prime time slots.
The final show, which saw Matt Cardle crowned king, peaked with more than 17.5 million viewers on Sunday 12 December – and secured a record-breaking £25 million in advertising revenue for ITV.
However, aside from The X Factor, ITV1 only featured in the Top 20 Programmes once with the I’m a Celebrity… Coming Out show.
BBC One banked the majority of the highest ratings in the lead up to Christmas, with the Matt Lucas and David Walliam’s new comedy Come Fly with Me (which has just been commissioned for a second series), Doctor Who and Strictly Come Dancing.
A number of Christmas day programmes also featured in the top 20 – The Royle Family Christmas special, The One Ronnie and BBC One’s film Shrek The Third.
Top Programmes
| Position | Programme | On Air Date | Genre | Station | Viewers (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE X FACTOR RESULTS | Sunday 12 December 2010 | Light Entertainment | ITV1 | 16.6 |
| 2 | THE X FACTOR | Saturday 11 December 2010 | Light Entertainment | ITV1 | 13.9 |
| 3 | COME FLY WITH ME | Saturday 25 December 2010 | Comedy | BBC1 | 12.5 |
| 4 | DOCTOR WHO | Saturday 25 December 2010 | Drama | BBC1 | 12.1 |
| 5 | STRICTLY COME DANCING RESULTS | Sunday 12 December 2010 | Light Entertainment | BBC1 | 12.0 |
| 6 | STRICTLY COME DANCING | Saturday 11 December 2010 | Light Entertainment | BBC1 | 11.6 |
| 7 | THE ROYLE FAMILY | Saturday 25 December 2010 | Comedy | BBC1 | 11.3 |
| 8 | BBC NEWS | Saturday 18 December 2010 | News | BBC1 | 9.7 |
| 9 | NEW YEAR LIVE | Friday 31 December 2010 | Light Entertainment | BBC1 | 9.4 |
| 10 | THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE | Thursday 16 December 2010 | Light Entertainment | BBC1 | 8.9 |
| 11 | UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS | Sunday 26 December 2010 | Drama | BBC1 | 8.9 |
| 12 | THE ONE RONNIE | Saturday 25 December 2010 | Comedy | BBC1 | 8.8 |
| 13 | THE APPRENTICE | Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Factual | BBC1 | 8.8 |
| 14 | UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS | Tuesday 28 December 2010 | Drama | BBC1 | 8.2 |
| 15 | THE APPRENTICE | Wednesday 8 December 2010 | Factual | BBC1 | 8.1 |
| 16 | THE NATIONAL LOTTERY – SATURDAY DRAWS | Saturday 18 December 2010 | Light Entertainment | BBC1 | 8.0 |
| 17 | I’M A CELEBRITY…COMING OUT | Monday 6 December 2010 | Factual | ITV1 | 7.8 |
| 18 | FILM: SHREK THE THIRD (2007) | Saturday 25 December 2010 | Film | BBC1 | 7.8 |
| 19 | CASUALTY | Saturday 18 December 2010 | Drama | BBC1 | 7.4 |
| 20 | BBC NEWS | Sunday 26 December 2010 | News | BBC1 | 7.2 |
| 2009 | 2010 | % Point Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBC1 | 21.2 | 21.1 | -0.1 |
| BBC2 | 7.7 | 7.1 | -0.6 |
| ITV 1 | 17.7 | 17.1 | -0.6 |
| C4 | 6.6 | 5.8 | -0.8 |
| Five | 4.2 | 4.3 | 0.1 |
| Others | 41.8 | 43.4 | 1.6 |
| 2009 | 2010 | % Point Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBC1 | 20.6 | 20.6 | 0.1 |
| BBC2 | 7.2 | 6.8 | -0.4 |
| ITV 1 | 17.2 | 16.8 | -0.4 |
| C4 | 6.3 | 5.7 | -0.6 |
| Five | 4.1 | 4.2 | 0.1 |
| Others | 44.0 | 44.6 | 0.6 |
| Sky | Freeview | Difference in share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBC1 | 18.7 | 23.8 | 5.1 |
| BBC2 | 5.3 | 8.8 | 3.5 |
| ITV 1 | 15.0 | 19.6 | 4.6 |
| C4 | 5.0 | 6.6 | 1.6 |
| Five | 3.2 | 5.8 | 2.5 |
| Others | 51.2 | 34.4 | -16.8 |
