Christmas TV: Queen's Christmas Speech Beats 'Downton Abbey' In Christmas Viewing Poll

'Downton' To Be Trumped By The Queen Xmas Day

Downton Abbey's Christmas special is not the viewing public's first TV choice when it comes to Christmas Day, according to a new poll.

Nearly a fifth of people (18%) said the Queen's Christmas message was the ultimate in festive viewing, followed by the 'Coronation Street' special (10%) and the James Stewart classic 'It's A Wonderful Life' (9%) which is regularly repeated over the holiday season.

The Downton Abbey cast

Only 3% of the 2,000 people polled picked the Christmas Day 'Downton Abbey' episode.

The award-winning ITV drama is pitted in the schedule against the combined might on BBC One of 'EastEnders' - which sees Danny Dyer joining the show - a 'Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas Special' and a 25-minute chunk of 'Michael McIntyre's Showtime'.

The two channels usually pull out their big guns to win the Christmas Day ratings battle, with BBC1 generally claiming victory.

The poll, commissioned by Samsung Smart TV, also found the average UK household will watch three hours and forty-five minutes of TV on Christmas Day and 10am was the most popular time for people to turn their TVs on.

Downton Christmas Special

Downton Christmas Special

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