"Downton Abbey" period drama's finale leading primetime ratings

PanARMENIAN.Net - Downton Abbey finished in style on Christmas Day, leading the primetime ratings, Digital Spy reports.

The period drama's two-hour finale - which saw Edith's wedding and Thomas's brief departure from the Crawley estate - scored an audience of 6.5m (28.3%) from 8.45pm on ITV, with a further 298k (1.6%) tuning in on +1.

Earlier in the evening, Emmerdale picked up 4.26m (19.2%) as a vengeful Belle threatened to expose Zak's infidelity.

Coronation Street continued with 5.59m (23.5%) from 7.45pm, as Tracy got an unexpected Christmas surprise and Tyrone finally popped the question to Fiz.

But it was EastEnders that just came out top in a close battle of the soaps, drawing 5.73m to BBC One from 8.45pm for Christmas Day drama including a murder plot, a case of mistaken identity and a car crash.

Doctor Who's festive episode 'The Husbands of River Song' opened the night for BBC One with 5.77m (29.4%) from 5.15pm.

Strictly Come Dancing's Christmas special - featuring a special video message from Sir Bruce Forsyth, who's recovering from a recent operation - was seen by 6.49m (30%) from 6.15pm.

Call the Midwife continued the festive programming with 5.8m (24.5%) at 7.30pm, while the first of two Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas specials drew in 6.41m (27.7%) at 9.45pm. Michael McIntyre's Big Christmas Show was seen by 3.62m (20.4%) at 10.25pm.

The channel's adaptation of children's book Stick Man also drew a big audience, averaging 6.36m (34.5%) at 4.45pm.

Gogglebox spinoff Gogglesprogs was a big hit for Channel 4, entertaining 2.24m (9.33%) from 8pm (362k/1.5% on +1). Alan Carr's two-hour Chatty Man festive special, featuring special guests from Catherine Tate to One Direction, drew in an average of 990k (4.4%) from 9pm (+1: 199k/1.2%).

Darcey's Ballet Heroes drew 1.01m (4.2%) over to BBC Two at 8.50pm, while Channel 5's top-rated primetime programme was Britain's Favourite Christmas Songs, averaging 863k (3.8%) from 6pm-8pm.