Danny Dyer’s exit gave EastEnders a boost (Picture: BBC)
EastEnders has won the battle of the Christmas Day soap ratings, as Danny Dyer’s dramatic ‘death’ exit as Mick Carter gave the Walford soap a boost.
While the soaps were not the most watched programmes of the day, which is normal fare for Christmas, eyes are always on how Coronation Street and Emmerdale compare to EastEnders’ usual blockbuster visit.
This year, the stops were all pulled out, as Mick’s final episode saw him swept out to sea, presumed dead.
What came before was a tense car chase as Mick and Linda (Kellie Bright) tried to stop Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) escaping after her crimes.
As Linda leapt into Janine’s car, an action sequence saw the vehicle plunge over a cliff edge and into the sea.
Mick saved pregnant Janine and then waded back into the freezing waters to rescue Linda, not knowing that she had already escaped.
Viewers were gripped as Mick saw the truth about Janine (Picture: BBC)
It was the last that a screaming Linda would see of her soulmate, and fans were on the edge of their seats – those who weren’t asleep from turkey and stuffing overload anyway.
Comparatively, it was a generally quieter affair on ITV, with a happy wedding for Fiz (Jennie McAlpine) and Tyrone (Alan Halsall) in Corrie, while Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) came face to face with long lost secret brother Caleb (Will Ash) in Emmerdale.
For the first time since 2019, EastEnders was the top soap, pulling in 3.17 million viewers overnight for the live viewing.
This figure will increase when the final ratings are consolidated and doesn’t include online catch-up.
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Interestingly, while commentary continues around soaps – and all live TV – being on the decline, EastEnders was up from last year’s 2.92 million figure.
Last night, Coronation Street had 2.85 million, while Emmerdale had 2.56 million.
In overall TV, EastEnders and Coronation Street were eighth and ninth most watched programmes of the day.
As the drama continues tonight, ratings will likely be a completely different result, as EastEnders clashes with Coronation Street, and has already launched its Boxing Day episode on BBC iPlayer this morning.
MORE : EastEnders spoilers: Kellie Bright reveals if Linda Carter will get a new love interest after Mick
The soap war results are in.
