Ghosts was the most-watched TV comedy of 2023
![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) 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)](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/900x450/g/ghosts_series5_bed.jpg)
- 6.62 million viewers watched the final episode of Ghosts within the first seven days of broadcast
- Michael McIntyre's Big Show was watched by 5.75m viewers
- Have I Got News For You, The Graham Norton Show, Blankety Blank, Mrs Brown's Boys and For The Love Of Paul O'Grady were seen by more than 4 million viewers
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. Image shows left to right: Alison (Charlotte Ritchie), Betty (Sutara Gayle), Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe)](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200_eps/g/ghosts_0507.jpg)
6.62m on 25th December
![Michael McIntyre's Big Show. Michael McIntyre. Copyright: Hungry McBear Michael McIntyre's Big Show. Michael McIntyre. Copyright: Hungry McBear](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200/m/michael_mcintyre_big_show_generic.jpg)
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. Image shows left to right: Ian Hislop, Paul Merton. Credit: Matt Crockett](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200/h/hignfy_2023.jpg)
4.35m on 10th November
![The Graham Norton Show. Graham Norton. Credit: So Television, Christopher Baines The Graham Norton Show. Graham Norton. Credit: So Television, Christopher Baines](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200/t/the_graham_norton_show_2023.jpg)
4.21m on 31st December
![Blankety Blank. Bradley Walsh Blankety Blank. Bradley Walsh](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200/b/blankety_blank_2022_b.jpg)
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. 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](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200_eps/m/mrs_browns_boys_2023_1.jpg)
4.07m on 25th December
![For The Love Of Paul O'Grady. Paul O'Grady For The Love Of Paul O'Grady. Paul O'Grady](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200/f/for_the_love_of_paul_ogrady.jpg)
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. 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)](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200_eps/n/not_going_out_xmas_2023.jpg)
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?. Image shows from L to R: David Mitchell, Rob Brydon, Lee Mack. Copyright: Zeppotron](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200/w/would_i_lie_to_you_series13.jpg)
3.68m on 3rd February
![The Cleaner. Paul 'Wicky' Wickstead (Greg Davies) The Cleaner. Paul 'Wicky' Wickstead (Greg Davies)](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200/c/cleaner.jpg)
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.