BBC One is on course to triumph over ITV in the battle for the year's biggest ratings, thanks to hit series such as 'Strictly Come Dancing' and 'The Great British Bake Off'.
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Nadiya beat Tamal and Ian to win 'Bake Off'
More than half of the top 40 most-watched programmes so far in 2015 were broadcast by BBC One. This includes the 'Bake Off' final, which is at number one in the chart with a massive 15 million viewers.
The figures were hailed by BBC One boss Charlotte Moore as "wonderful" and a reflection of "an incredible year" for the channel.
Just 13 of the top 40 were shown by ITV - though this could change at Christmas with the broadcast of the last ever episode of 'Downton Abbey'.
The chart has been compiled by the Press Association from data produced by the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (Barb).
All 10 episodes of this year's series of 'The Great British Bake Off' are in the list, with seven inside the top 10.
'EastEnders' appears three times, including both of the 30th anniversary episodes broadcast on February 19.
But it is 'Strictly Come Dancing' which dominates the top 40, appearing a total of 12 times - a number that could increase after the transmission on December 19 of the show's grand final.
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'Strictly Come Dancing'
ITV's highest entry is the final of 'Britain's Got Talent', which is at number two with just under 13 million viewers. The show appears a total of seven times in the chart, while another ITV series, 'I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!', appears four times. 'The X Factor' does not make the top 40.
BBC One controller Charlotte Moore told the Press Association: "It's wonderful to see the fabulous 'Great British Bake Off' top the list in what has been an incredible year for BBC One.
"Thanks to the talented creatives we work with, the channel has brought the nation together with a distinctive range of world-class programmes at the top of their game and BBC One's highest-rating shows all reflect this.
"Next year, BBC One's commitment to ambitious and pioneering television will continue to raise the bar even further on quality and innovation."
An ITV spokesman pointed out that the channel had broadcast the most-watched entertainment show of the year in 'Britain's Got Talent', along with the highest-rated dramas ('Downton Abbey' and 'Broadchurch') and the most-watched sporting event of 2015 - England v Wales in the Rugby World Cup, which had a total audience of 9.7 million.
For the top 40 to change before the end of the year, a programme will need to attract an audience of at least 10.5 million viewers.
Currently only BBC One (27 shows) and ITV (13) appear in the chart.
The top 40 was compiled using Barb's consolidated ratings for seven days. This is the number of people who watched a programme live plus those who watched a recording of the show within a week of its original transmission.
The figures for ITV also include the ITV HD and ITV+1 channels. If these were removed from the calculations, BBC One programmes would make up 39 of the top 40.
'Great British Bake Off': Where Are They Now?
Edd Kimber (winner, 2010)(01 of11)
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Fresh from being crowned the winner of the first ever ‘Bake Off’, Ed quit his day job as a debt collector for Yorkshire Bank (which he hated) to follow his baking dream with a job in Raymond Blanc’s restaurant Le Manoir as a pastry chef (what else?). He’s gone on to carve himself a career as a food writer with articles appearing in BBC Good Food magazine and on his blog theboywhobakes.co.uk. In 2011 he published his first cookbook, ran a pop-up bakery in Fortnum & Mason and is also the resident baker on ‘The Alan Titchmarsh Show’. “Bake Off changed [my life] in the most amazing way. It allowed me to follow my passion and fulfil my dreams in a way I never imagined,” he said recently. (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Jo Wheatley (winner, 2011)(02 of11)
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After winning the second series of ‘Bake Off’, Jo started her own cooking school. Based at her home in Essex, Jo teaches classes on home-baking such as bread making and cupcake decorating. She has also published two cookbooks, ‘A Passion For Cooking’ and ‘Home Baking’ and is a regular food columnist for The Sun and Sainsbury’s Magazine.
John Whaite (winner, 2012)(03 of11)
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John hasn’t stopped working since winning series three. As well as publishing two cookbooks, ‘John Whaites Bakes’ and John Whaites Bakes At Home’, he earned a patisserie diploma from Le Cordon Bleu, launched his own online chocolate shop The Hungry Dog Artisan Chocolates and is set to launch his own cookery school, John Whaite’s Kitchen. On top of all that he’s also the resident baker on Lorraine Kelly’s ITV morning show. Phew! (credit:Rex)
Frances Quinn (winner, 2013)(04 of11)
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Frances, who won the fourth series in 2013, is best remembered for her highly creative designs and has gone on to share her skills at shows and festivals around the UK. Many of her recipes have also appeared in newspapers and magazines and she’s also popped up on many TV and radio shows. Her first book ‘Quinntessential Baking’ is set to be published on 27 August and promises to be "a treasure trove of inspirational ideas to bring a spark of creativity and a teaspoon of wonder into your kitchen." (credit:David M. Benett via Getty Images)
Nancy Birtwhistle (winner, 2014)(05 of11)
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Former GP surgery manager Nancy, who was crowned champion at the end of last year’s series, has gone on to launch her own baking website www.nancybirtwhistle.co.uk where she shares receipes with fans. The 60-year-old is also in demand for everything from cookery demonstrations to after-dinner speaking and is currently writing an encyclopedia of baking. (credit:BBC)
Mary-Anne Boermans (2011)(06 of11)
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Mary-Anne was pipped to the post in the 2011 final but has gone on to launch her own blog timetocookonline.com and is about to opublish her very first book ‘Great British Cakes’ which has already had mary berry’s seal of approval, saying it was ‘brilliantly researched from a true foodie’.
James Morton (2012)(07 of11)
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After coming second on the third series, Glaswegian James has amassed a huge fanbase thanks to his baking blog and regular column in the Sunday Mail newspaper. He’s also had two books published, the first of which, ‘Brilliant Bread’, won the Guild of Food Writers award for Best Cookbook in 2014. Earlier this year he beat Michel Roux Jr to win Radio Times Food Champion but despite his baking success he is still studying to become a doctor at the University of Glasgow. (credit:Jame Morton/Twitter)
Ruby Tandoh (2013)(08 of11)
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She might not have won the 2013 series but Ruby has just been voted Bake Off’s favourite ever contestant by readers of Radio Times. Since appearing on the show, Ruby has written a book called ‘Crumb’ and recorded her own documentary for Radio 4. She also has her own blog rubyandthekitchen.co.uk and writes a weekly recipe column for The Guardian. In April this year she announced she was gay on Twitter and also hit back at the trolls who suggested there was chemistry between her and judge Paul Hollywood. She tweeted: “For those who thought I fancied Paul Hollywood or that I'd ever bang him to get ahead - JOKE'S ON YOU, YOU MASSIVE SHITTING MISOGYNISTS.” (credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Howard Middleton (2013)(09 of11)
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Howard proved to be an instant hit with ‘Bake Off’ viewers when he appeared on the 2013 series. The council worker, who provided some of the most memorable moments (remember custard-gate? Or the missing trifle?), is set to publish his first book ‘Delicious Gluten-Free Baking’ in September. Speaking about his time on the show recently, he said: “My greatest memory is having met such a wonderful bunch of people and it is one of those things that continues. It exists outside of that and that is a pleasure really.” (credit:Chris Radburn/PA Archive)
Martha Collison (2014) (10 of11)
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At just 17 years old, Martha was the youngest ever contestant to appear on ‘Bake Off’, but despite her years, she went on to reach the quarter finals. So it’s no surprise that since appearing on the show, Martha has not only launched her own successful baking blog but has also landed herself a column in the Waitrose Weekend newspaper, alongside the likes of Pippa Middleton, Clare Balding, and Mariella Frostrup. On top of this, she spent her half-term break in Cambodia as an ambassador for the Tearfund charity where she visited victims of child trafficking and held baking workshops with them. (credit:BBC)
Richard Burr (2014)(11 of11)
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Richard was an early favourite to win last year’s ‘Bake Off’ but despite not walking away with the title he’s gone on to enjoy success outside of his building business. As well as his popular blog, richardburr.london, he regularly appears at food festivals around the country and has just published his first book, ‘B.I.Y. Bake It Yourself’ (see what they did there?). (credit:BBC)