Top 25 programmes of 2006

Here is a list of the top 25 programmes of 2006 so far up to 24th September

Only the highest rating episode of each programme is shown, and in the case of the world cup, the highest rating match on BBC1 and ITV1 is shown

17 programmes are from ITV1, 8 from BBC1, none are from any other broadcaster

Only 7 programmes have managed the magical 10 million viewers so far this year but that will obviously change as we go through the Autumn season

1 WORLD CUP 2006: SWE V ENG (TUE 20/06/2006 1950) 18.46 ITV1
2 WORLD CUP 2006: ENG V ECU (SUN 25/06/2006 1600) 16.29 BBC1
3 CORONATION STREET (MON 13/03/2006 1934) 12.60 ITV1
4 EASTENDERS (MON 02/01/2006 2001) 12.33 BBC1
5 DANCING ON ICE (SAT 04/03/2006 2111) 11.68 ITV1

6 LEWIS (SUN 29/01/2006 2105) 11.31 ITV1
7 WILD AT HEART (SUN 29/01/2006 2001) 10.83 ITV1
8 EMMERDALE (MON 13/03/2006 1903) 9.86 ITV1
9 GHOSTBOAT (SUN 09/04/2006 2102) 9.75 ITV1
10 HEARTBEAT (SUN 22/01/2006 2000) 9.66 ITV1

11 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (WED 17/05/2006 1902) 9.63 ITV1
12 PLANET EARTH (SUN 05/03/2006 2101) 9.41 BBC1
13 MATCH OF THE DAY LIVE (TUE 30/05/2006 1958) 9.29 BBC1
14 DOCTOR WHO (SAT 22/04/2006 1917) 9.24 BBC1
15 THE X FACTOR (SAT 23/09/2006 1916) 9.17 ITV1

16 THE ROYAL (SUN 26/03/2006 2001) 9.09 ITV1
17 REBUS (MON 02/01/2006 2100) 9.00 ITV1
18 MIDSOMER MURDERS (SUN 05/03/2006 2104) 8.94 ITV1
19 AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MARPLE (SUN 05/02/2006 2105) 8.74 ITV1
20 NEW TRICKS (MON 22/05/2006 2100) 8.73 BBC1

21 SOAPSTAR SUPERSTAR (SAT 14/01/2006 2111) 8.61 ITV1
22 DOC MARTIN (THU 05/01/2006 2102) 8.60 ITV1
23 THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST (SAT 20/05/2006 2000) 8.33 BBC1
24 CASUALTY (SAT 14/01/2006 2021) 8.26 BBC1
25 FOYLE'S WAR (SUN 15/01/2006 2105) 8.23 ITV1

Interesting to see Coronation Street and Emmerdale both had their highest rated episodes on the same day - the same thing happened last year as well, IIRC. Anyway, nice to see some quality shows up there - although I can't understand why Wild At Heart was so popular.

Hardly surprising considering they follow each other in the schedule?

Yes, but were either having any eventful happening that evening? Anyway, I'll shut up now...

They are also both pretty uneventful episodes which I think also happened last year. It's strange how the ratings turn out

*ignore post*

*Okay*

That's quite interesting - it's not that longer ago when you'd have at least 7 programmes a week breaking the 10million mark!


Even though it's not a complete year, it would be interesting to compare it to the top 25 programmes of say 5 years, 10 years and 15 years ago if anyone can get hold of the info.



One thing that sticks out to me is Rebus getting 9m viewers for ITV1 earlier in the year. I don't think it's recent Friday night run got anywhere near that number of viewers.

It goes to show that people wont always tune in for hyped up episodes of the soaps, if an uneventful episode gets the highest ratings of the year so far.

Still its good to see Corrie the most popular programme on tv after the World Cup.

Yeah, but look at the date and day. A Monday, and the 2nd of January. Around New Year's a lot of the shows still get massive audiences so that would explain Rebus. It didn't get near that this time as it was on a Friday. Although it did do as well as it could, winning its timeslot.

Interesting (some would say unsurprising) to note how few 'reality' programmes in that list too. If only the main channels would listen!

Mike's death probably would have beaten that record if it was on a Monday. It came close and did brilliantly for a Friday episode.