Viewers to BBC iPlayer set a new all-time record during Christmas week (December 25-31, 2023) as programmes were streamed 177 million times, up 7% on 2022.
In all. 16.5 million accounts were signed in to watch programmes on BBC iPlayer, up 5% year-on-year.
Across ‘festive fortnight’ (December 19, 2023 – January 1, 2024), the dramatic reveal of EastEnders ‘The Six’ storyline on Christmas Day topped the chart as the most popular episode on iPlayer (2.96 million streams) – followed by the climax to the second series of Vigil (2.19 million), Rick Astley bringing in the New Year (2.02 million) – and Call the Midwife (2.01 million) and Doctor Who’s Christmas specials (1.79 million).
Dan McGolpin, Director of BBC iPlayer and Channels says: “It’s wonderful to see that viewers came to BBC iPlayer in record numbers over the festive period. No-where else would they have found the same range of high-quality British programming to keep them gripped, make them laugh or to provide companionship and news at that special time. And with a whole host of compelling drama, comedy, factual programming, entertainment and sport landing on iPlayer in 2024, viewers can look forward to a great year ahead.”
EastEnders was also the top title on iPlayer (26.28 million streams) for the ‘festive fortnight’. Vigil (10.96 million), Doctor Who (from 2005 onwards) (10.01 million), Mrs Brown’s Boys (4.64 million), Death in Paradise (3.98 million), Gavin & Stacey (3.96 million), Call the Midwife (3.85 million and Ghosts (3.82 million) also made the top ten – along with children’s favourites Bluey (10.42 million) and Hey Duggee (10.12 million).
