Lights, camera, action... and the ratings are in! The week of December 8th to 14th, 2025, was a battleground for viewership, with some surprising shifts in the rankings. But which shows truly captured the nation's attention? Let's dive into the consolidated ratings provided by BARB (Broadcasters' Audience Research Board) to uncover the most-watched programs of the week. For a detailed breakdown of the top 50, you can always head over to BARB's official website (https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/most-viewed-programmes/).
With the jungle drums of 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!' silenced for another year, ballroom fever took over! 'Strictly Come Dancing' waltzed its way back to the top spot, proving its enduring popularity. Saturday night's dazzling live show captivated a massive audience of 7,533,000 viewers. The Sunday night results show, filled with tense moments and emotional goodbyes, drew in a substantial 7,226,400. Meanwhile, the 'I'm A Celebrity Coming Out' show, offering a glimpse into the celebs' post-jungle lives, managed to attract a respectable 4,499,700 viewers.
'Celebrity Race Across The World' reached its thrilling conclusion, with 5,774,400 viewers tuning in to see which team would claim victory. The satirical news program 'Have I Got News For You' also wrapped up its series, delivering its signature blend of wit and current affairs to 5,369,300 viewers. Michael McIntyre's 'The Wheel' kept viewers on the edge of their seats, spinning its way to 4,671,900 viewers, while Alan Carr's 'Picture Slam' provided lighthearted entertainment for 3,290,600.
ITV rolled out 'The 1% Club Rollover' on Monday night, attracting 3,573,900 viewers. The series continued to perform steadily throughout the week, drawing in audiences of 3,282,000, 2,911,400, 3,050,200, and 2,819,800 respectively. And on Sunday evening, Stephen Mulhern's charming travelogue, 'Accidental Tourist', took 3,174,200 armchair travelers on a vicarious adventure. But here's where it gets controversial... are travel shows losing their appeal in the age of instant online travel content?
Over on Netflix, Rowan Atkinson returned to the small screen with 'Man Vs Baby', the comedy prequel to 'Man Vs Bee'. The first episode launched with a strong 3,686,000 viewers, with the second episode maintaining a solid audience of 3,053,000. This raises the question: can streaming services truly compete with traditional television when it comes to capturing mass audiences for individual episodes?
The Doctor Who universe continued to expand with 'The War Between The Land And The Sea', a spin-off that drew in 3,712,600 and 3,202,800 viewers for its third and fourth episodes respectively. The Death In Paradise spin-off, 'Return To Paradise', reached its finale, concluding with 2,953,700 viewers. Over in soapland, 'Coronation Street' reigned supreme as the most-watched soap of the week, captivating 3,791,800 viewers. And this is the part most people miss: soap operas, while not always topping the charts, maintain a consistently dedicated viewership, a testament to their enduring appeal.
All the programs mentioned above are conveniently available for streaming on their respective broadcaster's platforms, meaning you can catch up on anything you missed! So, what do you think of these ratings? Were your favorite shows represented? Do you agree with the nation's viewing choices, or were there any surprises? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
