Gavin & Stacey draws in record seven-day viewing figures for BBC1 drama - as millions stream Christmas special on iPlayer
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Gavin and Stacey’s Christmas Day finale is one of the most watched BBC shows in recent history, attracting 18.2 million viewers across a seven-day period. The huge viewership — based on a week’s worth of viewing on television, as well as iPlayer — is believed to make it the top rating comedy for the Corporation in modern times.
![[The huge viewership was based on a week’s worth of viewing on television as well as iPlayer]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/03/01/93695317-14245753-The_huge_viewership_was_based_on_a_week_s_worth_of_viewing_on_te-a-34_1735866156714.jpg)
Figures provided by Home, which measure seven-day viewing back to 2007, put it fifth overall for top rating shows on BBC One. The episode, starring James Corden and Ruth Jones, is also believed to be the seventh most watched show across the main five channels across seven days in this same period.
![[According to the research, the most viewed show in this period on the BBC channel was the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics with 24.5 million, closely followed by the opening ceremony (pictured)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/03/01/93695319-14245753-According_to_the_research_the_most_viewed_show_in_this_period_on-a-37_1735866156719.jpg)
The Gavin & Stacey special was watched on Christmas Day itself by 12.3 million, but added almost six million to this figure across the whole week. If news and sports events are removed from the list it would be the top BBC One show across these years. According to the research, the most viewed show in this period on the BBC channel was the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics with 24.5 million.
![[Gavin & Stacey was also beaten by Boris Johnson's 2020 Covid lockdown statement, which was viewed by 18.8million nationwide]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/03/01/93695341-14245753-Gavin_Stacey_was_also_beaten_by_Boris_Johnson_s_2020_Covid_lockd-a-36_1735866156719.jpg)
This was closely followed the opening ceremony with 24.2 million. Gavin & Stacey's Christmas Day finale was one of the most watched programmes in BBC history, attracting 18.2million viewers. The huge viewership was based on a week’s worth of viewing on television as well as iPlayer.
