British Comedy Guide

Most-watched TV comedies of 2024 revealed

Wednesday 15th January 2025, 10:49am


The most-watched British comedies on TV in 2024 can now be revealed.

Research by British Comedy Guide has determined that 13 different TV comedy formats attracted audiences in excess of 3 million last year, with the much-anticipated Gavin & Stacey finale leading the chart.

BCG used 7-day consolidated data from audience measurement company BARB to determine the list. This measurement records all viewers who watched each programme live at the time of transmission, plus those catching up over the next seven days through repeats, recordings and the broadcasters' streaming platforms. Views more than a week after initial broadcast are not included in these numbers.

The top 10 are all BBC One shows and listed below. In cases where multiple episodes of a series performed strongly, we have highlighted only the highest-rated episode.

Gavin & Stacey. Image shows left to right: Smithy (James Corden), Gavin (Mathew Horne), Stacey (Joanna Page), Nessa (Ruth Jones). Credit: Tidy Productions, Fulwell 73 Productions, BBC, Tom Jackson

Gavin & Stacey: 19.11m
Special. Broadcast: Christmas Day

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: 16.29m
One-off. Broadcast: Christmas Day

Outnumbered. Image shows left to right: Ben (Daniel Roche), Karen (Ramona Marquez), Pete (Hugh Dennis), Jake (Tyger Drew-Honey), Sue (Claire Skinner)

Outnumbered: 7.41m
Special. Broadcast: Boxing Day

Ludwig. John (David Mitchell)

Ludwig: 7.15m
Episode 6. Broadcast: 30th October

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

Michael McIntyre's Big Show: 5.87m
Series 7, Episode 2. Broadcast: 20th January

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

Have I Got News For You: 4.52m
Series 67, Episode 7. Broadcast: 7th June

Michael McIntyre's 25th Year Stand-Up Special. Michael McIntyre

Michael McIntyre's 25th Year Stand-Up Special: 4.41m
One-off. Broadcast: 14th December

The Graham Norton Show. Image shows left to right: Robbie Williams, Rami Malek, Graham Norton, Motsi Mabuse, John Bishop

The Graham Norton Show: 3.92m
Special. Broadcast: New Year's Eve

Mrs. Brown's Boys

Mrs Brown's Boys: 3.88m
Special. Broadcast: Christmas Day

Comic Relief. Lenny Henry

Comic Relief: 3.83m
Special. Broadcast: 15th March


Elsewhere, Would I Lie To You?'s top rated episode, on 12th January 2024, secured a 7-day audience of 3.79m. The first episode of ITV comedy drama Douglas Is Cancelled picked up 3.31m viewers in June, and - scoring Channel 4's biggest comedy audience - The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year collected up 3.01m viewers during Christmas week.

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