Top 10 UK TV shows in 2023

Top 10 UK TV shows in 2023

2023 marks an outstanding year of British creativity on BBC TV

The BBC connected with audiences across the UK and produced the highest rating shows in every genre, delivering value to all licence fee payers

“Only the BBC can offer such scale, distinctiveness and ambition. Our range of world-class programmes is unrivalled, we’ve delivered value to audiences and they’ve chosen the BBC in every genre.” — Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer

The BBC wins seven out of ten of the most watched shows in 2023 so far across all broadcasters and streamers.

The Coronation, Happy Valley and the Eurovision Song Contest came out on top.

The BBC connected with audiences across the UK and produced the highest rating shows in every genre, delivering value to all licence fee payers.

Uniquely bringing people together for unmissable events and enabling creative voices to tell distinctive, compelling stories from across the widest range of genres.

The Coronation (12.8m*), Planet Earth III (8.9m**) and Wild Isles (8.2m) take the top three spots for Factual in 2023.

Happy Valley is the biggest drama of the year (11.9m) and Death in Paradise takes the second spot (8.3m) with eight of the top ten from BBC Drama.

Ghosts is the biggest comedy of the year (4.9m) with nine of the top 10 comedies all on the BBC.

The biggest entertainment show of the year so far goes to the Eurovision Song Contest (10.7m*).

And not forgetting another outstanding year of sport with the Women’s World Cup final delivering a peak of 12m viewers.

Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer says: “Only the BBC can offer such scale, distinctiveness and ambition. Our range of world-class programmes is unrivalled, we’ve delivered value to audiences and they’ve chosen the BBC in every genre. We are facing tough financial challenges, and while we are not unique in this, what’s impressive is that despite all the millions being spent on global platforms, we’ve had an extraordinary year creatively.”

Top 10 in 2023

1. The Coronation of TM The King and Queen Camilla*

BBC
12.8m

2. Happy Valley

BBC
11.9m

3. Eurovision Song Contest

BBC
10.7m

4. The Great British Bake Off**

Ch4
9.7m

5. I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!***

ITV
9.0m

6. Planet Earth III**

BBC
8.9m

7. Strictly Come Dancing**

BBC
8.5m

8. Death in Paradise

BBC
8.3m

9. Unforgotten

ITV
8.2m

10. Wild Isles

BBC
8.2m

About

Notes to Editors

All 28 Day full series unless otherwise specified
*These events are the highest TX (not part of a series)
**28 Day data but missing later episodes (full series 28 Day not yet available)
***7 Day data only for part of series (28 Day not yet available)

Source
BBC One

Scroll to Top