British Comedy Guide

Ghosts was the most-watched TV comedy of 2023

Wednesday 10th January 2024, 11:31am

Ghosts. Image shows left to right: Kitty (Lolly Adefope), Pat (Jim Howick), Captain (Ben Willbond), Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe), Julian (Simon Farnaby), Alison (Charlotte Ritchie), Robin (Laurence Rickard), Thomas (Mathew Baynton), Lady Button (Martha Howe-Douglas)

The final episode of hit sitcom Ghosts, which was broadcast on BBC One on Christmas Day, was the most-watched new British comedy episode in 2023.

Data from the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) reveals that across the first seven days from broadcast it was watched by 6.62 million viewers. BARB's 7-day 4-screen consolidated ratings combine the estimated count those that watched the programme on the day of broadcast with figures from households who chose to catch-up via streaming platforms.

The top 10 for 2023 is below. In many cases, multiple episodes from the productions mentioned scored ratings of over 4 million. We have selected the highest rated episode in these cases.


Ghosts. Image shows left to right: Alison (Charlotte Ritchie), Betty (Sutara Gayle), Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe)

Ghosts

6.62m on 25th December


Michael McIntyre's Big Show. Michael McIntyre. Copyright: Hungry McBear

Michael McIntyre's Big Show

5.75m on 4th February


Have I Got News For You. Image shows left to right: Ian Hislop, Paul Merton. Credit: Matt Crockett

Have I Got News For You

4.35m on 10th November


The Graham Norton Show. Graham Norton. Credit: So Television, Christopher Baines

The Graham Norton Show

4.21m on 31st December


Blankety Blank. Bradley Walsh

Blankety Blank

4.16m on 30th September


Mrs. Brown's Boys. Image shows left to right: Birdie (June Rodgers), Betty Brown (Amanda Woods), Mark Brown (Pat Shields), Winnie McGoogan (Eilish O'Carroll), Bono Brown (Jamie O'Carroll), Sharon McGoogan (Fiona Gibney), Trevor Brown (Martin Delany), Agnes Brown (Brendan O'Carroll), Cathy Brown (Jennifer Gibney), Father Damien (Conor Moloney), Maria Nicholson / Brown (Fiona O'Carroll), Buster Brady (Danny O'Carroll), Barbara (Emily Reagan), Blister (Blake O'Carroll), Dermot Brown (Paddy Houlihan), Maureen (Helen Roche). Credit: BBC Studios

Mrs Brown's Boys

4.07m on 25th December


For The Love Of Paul O'Grady. Paul O'Grady

For The Love Of Paul O'Grady

4m on 9th April


Not Going Out. Image shows left to right: Toby (Hugh Dennis), Anna (Abigail Cruttenden), Molly (Francesca Newman), Lee (Lee Mack), Benji (Max Pattison), Lucy (Sally Bretton), Wendy (Deborah Grant), Charlie (Finley Southby), Geoffrey (Geoffrey Whitehead)

Not Going Out

3.86m on 24th December


Would I Lie To You?. Image shows from L to R: David Mitchell, Rob Brydon, Lee Mack. Copyright: Zeppotron

Would I Lie To You?

3.68m on 3rd February


The Cleaner. Paul 'Wicky' Wickstead (Greg Davies)

The Cleaner

3.04m on 24th March


Comic Relief in March was seen by 3.02m viewers, whilst 2.39m watched the opening episode of Series 16 of Taskmaster on 21st September.

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