REVEALED: The 20 most-watched TV episodes ever

To celebrate 80 years since the start of television broadcasting in the UK, we've had a look back at the country's most popular shows.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Nov 2016, 08:38 BST
Updated 16th Nov 2016, 16:51 BST

Only Fools and Horses make it to number one for their Christmas special in 1996, and other TV hits including Coronation Street, To The Manor Born and Dallas also appear in the list.

There are no episodes listed in the last 15 years though, with the last being Only Fools and Horses from Christmas Day in 2001.

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To celebrate the anniversary, we’ve also had a look back at how The News reported the birth of UK television broadcasting back on November 2, 1936.

Here is the top 20 in full:

The most watched TV programmes during the last 80 years (from PA):
1. Only Fools And Horses (BBC1, December 29 1996): 24.35 million
2. To The Manor Born (BBC1, November 11 1979): 23.95 million
3. The Royal Variety Performance (ITV, November 19 1967): 22.80 million
4. Panorama (BBC1, November 20 1995): 22.77 million
5. The Royal Variety Performance (ITV, November 14 1965): 21.70 million
6. Dallas (BBC1, November 22 1980): 21.60 million
7. To The Manor Born (BBC1, November 9 1980): 21.55 million
8. The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show (BBC1, December 25 1977): 21.40 million
= Coronation Street (ITV, January 2 1985): 21.40 million
10. Only Fools And Horses (BBC1, December 25 2001): 21.35 million
11. Only Fools And Horses (BBC1, December 27 1996): 21.33 million
12. Only Fools And Horses (BBC1, December 25 1996): 21.31 million
13. The Morecambe And Wise Christmas Show (BBC1, December 25 1977): 21.30 million
14. The Royal Variety Performance (ITV, November 10 1963): 21.20 million
= The Silver Jubilee Royal Variety Gala (ITV, December 4 1977): 21.20 million
16. Bread (BBC1, December 11 1988): 20.95 million
17. The Benny Hill Show (ITV, March 14 1979): 20.85 million
18. Coronation Street (ITV, December 18 1980): 20.80 million
19. Just Good Friends (BBC1, December 21 1986): 20.75 million
20. Sale Of The Century (ITV, November 19 1977) 20.60 million
= Coronation Street (ITV, January 9 1985): 20.60 million
= Coronation Street (ITV, January 16 1985): 20.60 million

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