BBC Gavin and Stacey Christmas special among 'most watched' shows of this century

The BBC's Christmas special of Gavin and Stacey is set to break records by becoming one of the most watched shows so far this century.

As viewers sat down to watch the final ever episode of the sitcom, it enjoyed huge overnight ratings of 12.3 million when it was shown on BBC One on Christmas Day, but has since been watched by several million more viewers.

According to the BBC, the show now boasts an impressive 19.3million viewers up to the 2nd January. Ratings organisation Barb is set to release the official figures on Monday (6th January), which will include all people who recorded and watched the programme up to seven days later – the industry standard for measuring TV audiences.

To fans of the show who didn't watch it on the TV, not to worry, as the official figures also include those who watched it on tablets, PCs and smartphones.

Before the 2024 special, the last Christmas episode aired in 2019. Ratings showed that 17.9 million people tuned in to watch it, so the last episode is set to outdo its competitor.

Speaking about the response they've had to Gavin and Stacey, co-creators James Corden and Ruth Jones gushed: "We are completely overwhelmed by the audience response to our show and to these astonishing viewing figures.

"Gavin & Stacey really does belong to the audience and we are beyond thrilled that so many people enjoyed watching it this Christmas."

So far, very few scripted TV shows have been able to reach figures that are this impressive. The closest is currently a 2003 episode of Coronation Street that pulled in an audience of 19.4 million, while the 2001 Christmas Day episode of Only Fools & Horses attracted an enormous 21.3 million viewers.

While viewers will never know what happened on that fishing trip,