BBC faces devastating ratings blow as biggest shows are trounced by ITV
As 2024 comes to a close and the ratings are revealed, BBC has faced yet another huge blow from viewers.
The BBC has faced yet another blow as viewing figures have shown that it has been beaten by ITV in a number of different categories.
After a year marred by scandal, with Strictly Come Dancing losing two professional dancers after allegations were made about their behaviour, the BBC has found itself falling behind in the ratings.
Whilst Strictly brought in its lowest ratings for a final ever, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! retained its crown as the UK's favourite entertainment show, averaging 9.1 million viewers throughout the series, according to recent seven-day consolidated data.
Meanwhile, in daytime programming, The Chase proved unbeatable, drawing 3.5 million viewers to its top-rated episode - the largest daytime audience of the year, with BBC quiz shows struggling to compete.
ITV also boasted the largest current affairs audience on any channel this year, with 5.4 million tuning in to watch Sunak v Starmer: The ITV Debate hosted by Julie Etchingham, the first election debate in June, while only 2.7m tuned into watch the BBC's equivalent.
Meanwhile, Coronation Street continued to reign supreme as the most-watched soap on TV, with an average viewership of 4.4 million throughout 2024, beating EastEnders, who usually hovers between 3.5m and 4m viewers.
ITV also boasted the largest current affairs audience on any channel this year, with 5.4 million tuning in to watch Sunak v Starmer: The ITV Debate hosted by Julie Etchingham, the first election debate in June.
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ITV's Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, Kevin Lygo, has expressed the channel's dedication to its viewership, affirming: "At ITV, we're squarely focused on making what matters to our audiences, whether that's thrilling drama, brilliant entertainment and reality, or high quality news and current affairs - there's something for everyone, and thanks to the talented producers and companies we work with, I'm delighted that ITV's shows have come out on top with audiences, in 2024."
