The 10 most watched TV shows of all time

The BBC won the ratings battle against ITV on Saturday night when the two broadcasters went head to head, with Strictly Come Dancing pulling in 8.1 million viewers and The X Factor attracting 7.7 million.

However, these figures are dwarfed by the audiences who tuned in for the most-watched TV programmes of all time.

1. EastEnders (25 December 1986) 30.15m

2. EastEnders (1 January 1987) 28m

3. Coronation Street (25 December 1987) 26.65m

4. Only Fools and Horses (29 December 1996) 24.35m

5. EastEnders (2 January 1992) 24.3m

6. Royal Variety Performance 1965 (14 November 1965) 24.2m

7. EastEnders (7 January 1988) 24.15m

8. To the Manor Born (11 November 1979) 23.95m

9. Miss World 1967 (19 November 1967) 23.76m

10. EastEnders (26 December 1985) 23.55m

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