BBC sitcom Only Fools And Horses has topped a new chart of the most-watched programmes in the 80-year history of British television.
Just over 24 million people tuned in for the episode broadcast on December 29 1996, in which David Jason's Del Boy finally got rich after auctioning an antique watch.
It is the biggest audience ever recorded for a single transmission of a TV programme in the UK.
A total of four episodes of Only Fools And Horses appear in the top 20, along with favourites such as Morecambe And Wise, Coronation Street and the Royal Variety Performance.
But there are no episodes of EastEnders, and nothing from the past 15 years.
The chart has been compiled by the Press Association to mark the 80th anniversary this week of the start of television in the UK.
The BBC launched the nation's first regular TV service at 3pm on November 2 1936, broadcasting live from from Alexandra Palace in north London.
Since then television in Britain has grown from one channel to more than 300, and the way we receive TV has moved from an aerial on the roof to underground cables, satellite dishes and online.
But while there are now more ways than ever to watch television, the PA's chart suggests the days of record audiences have been declining since the 1980s.
A total of eight programmes in the top 20 were broadcast in that decade, compared with four from the 1990s and just one from the noughties: an episode of Only Fools And Horses shown on Christmas Day 2001.
The oldest programme to appear in the chart is an edition of the Royal Variety Performance transmitted by ITV on November 10 1963, which featured a performance by The Beatles.
Light entertainment dominates the chart, with three-quarters of the places filled by comedies, variety shows or quizzes.
Other programmes include the 1995 Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales and the 1980 episode of US soap opera Dallas that revealed who shot oil tycoon JR Ewing.
The chart also boasts some surprising entries, such as an episode of The Benny Hill Show from 1979 and an edition of the Norwich-based quiz show Sale Of The Century from 1977 hosted by Nicholas Parsons.
One notable omission is EastEnders, however. Although the BBC soap has sometimes claimed audiences as high as "30 million" - such as at Christmas 1986 when Den Watts told his wife Angie he wanted a divorce - these figures were never for individual broadcasts and instead were calculated by adding together the original transmission plus repeats.
Here is the top 20 in full:
1. Only Fools And Horses (BBC1, December 29 1996): 24.35 million
2. To The Manor Born (BBC1, November 11 1979): 23.95 million
3. The Royal Variety Performance (ITV, November 19 1967): 22.80 million
4. Panorama (BBC1, November 20 1995): 22.77 million
5. The Royal Variety Performance (ITV, November 14 1965): 21.70 million
6. Dallas (BBC1, November 22 1980): 21.60 million
7. To The Manor Born (BBC1, November 9 1980): 21.55 million
8. The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show (BBC1, December 25 1977): 21.40 million
= Coronation Street (ITV, January 2 1985): 21.40 million
10. Only Fools And Horses (BBC1, December 25 2001): 21.35 million
11. Only Fools And Horses (BBC1, December 27 1996): 21.33 million
12. Only Fools And Horses (BBC1, December 25 1996): 21.31 million
13. The Morecambe And Wise Christmas Show (BBC1, December 25 1977): 21.30 million
14. The Royal Variety Performance (ITV, November 10 1963): 21.20 million
= The Silver Jubilee Royal Variety Gala (ITV, December 4 1977): 21.20 million
16. Bread (BBC1, December 11 1988): 20.95 million
17. The Benny Hill Show (ITV, March 14 1979): 20.85 million
18. Coronation Street (ITV, December 18 1980): 20.80 million
19. Just Good Friends (BBC1, December 21 1986): 20.75 million
20. Sale Of The Century (ITV, November 19 1977) 20.60 million
= Coronation Street (ITV, January 9 1985): 20.60 million
= Coronation Street (ITV, January 16 1985): 20.60 million
:: The chart was compiled by the Press Association using figures from the Broadcasters Audience Research Board (Barb) and historic data held in the British Film Institute archive. It includes only programmes that were made for television, and does not include coverage of news and sporting events that would have taken place regardless of whether TV cameras were present, such as royal weddings and football matches.
As an expert and enthusiast, I don't have personal experiences or beliefs, but I can provide you with information on various topics. Regarding the article you mentioned about the most-watched programs in the 80-year history of British television, I can provide some insights.
Only Fools And Horses: The Most-Watched Program
According to the article, the BBC sitcom "Only Fools And Horses" topped the chart of the most-watched programs in the 80-year history of British television. The episode that attracted the largest audience was broadcast on December 29, 1996. In this episode, Del Boy, played by David Jason, finally got rich after auctioning an antique watch. The episode attracted over 24 million viewers, making it the biggest audience ever recorded for a single transmission of a TV program in the UK.
Top 20 Most-Watched Programs
The chart compiled by the Press Association includes the top 20 most-watched programs in the history of British television. Apart from "Only Fools And Horses," other popular shows that appear in the top 20 include "To The Manor Born," "The Royal Variety Performance," "Panorama," "Dallas," "Coronation Street," "The Morecambe And Wise Christmas Show," and "Bread," among others.
Decline of Record Audiences
The chart suggests that the days of record audiences have been declining since the 1980s. In the 1980s, a total of eight programs made it to the top 20, compared to four from the 1990s and only one from the 2000s. This decline in record audiences may be attributed to the increasing number of television channels and the changing ways people consume television, such as through online streaming platforms.
Television Evolution in the UK
The article also mentions the evolution of television in the UK since its inception. The BBC launched the nation's first regular TV service on November 2, 1936, broadcasting live from Alexandra Palace in north London. Over the years, television in Britain has grown from one channel to more than 300, and the way people receive TV has evolved from rooftop aerials to underground cables, satellite dishes, and online streaming.
Notable Omissions and Surprising Entries
The chart includes a variety of programs, with light entertainment dominating the list. Three-quarters of the places in the top 20 are filled by comedies, variety shows, or quizzes. However, it is notable that there are no episodes of "EastEnders" and nothing from the past 15 years in the top 20. The chart also includes some surprising entries, such as an episode of "The Benny Hill Show" from 1979 and an edition of the quiz show "Sale Of The Century" from 1977.
Please note that the information provided above is based on the article you mentioned, and the sources used to compile the chart were the Broadcasters Audience Research Board (Barb) and historic data held in the British Film Institute archive.
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