Broadcasting
Del Boy takes another telly top spot
Only Fools and Horses Special named ‘Britain’s All-Time Favourite Christmas Episode’…
New data has suggested the top-rated UK Christmas TV specials, with Only Fools and Horses leading, followed by shows such as The Office and Downton Abbey. The study, conducted by JeffBet, analysed over 250 British specials on IMDb, using a Bayesian ranking system that combined IMDb scores with the number of reviews. This method was used to determine the final rankings and identify the top ten episodes.
Only Fools and Horses has been crowned the nation’s favourite Christmas comfort, with the 1996 special “Time on Our Hands” taking the top spot, followed by the 1989 special “The Jolly Boys’ Outing”. The BBC One sitcom, which chronicles the lives of two brothers from London’s Peckham estate, has become an ever lasting hit with reruns regularly on UKTV’s comedy channel U&Gold. The 1996 special drew a record-breaking television audience of 24.4 million, the highest for any British sitcom, while the 1989 special attracted 20.1 million viewers.
The Office 2003 “Christmas Special: Part 2”, holds an IMDb score of 9.3 based on 3,091 reviews, placing third in the rankings. Set in the offices of a Slough paper merchant, this episode features Tim’s heartfelt Secret Santa gift for Dawn, while David Brent struggles to secure a date for the Christmas party. The Ricky Gervais-led sitcom also stars Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook.
Classic episodes of Only Fools and Horses can be seen on U&Gold from UKTV
Downton Abbey appears twice in the top rankings, with the 2015 episode “The Finale” securing a joint-fourth spot with a rating of 9.2 from over 2,500 IMDb reviews. Set against the backdrop of a wealthy British family in late 1925, 11.2 million viewers tuned in to see Edith and Bertie’s wedding, Anna’s birth, and the illnesses of Carson and Lord Merton.
Once again, Only Fools and Horses claims joint fourth place with an IMDb score of 9.3 from 920 reviews, resulting in a total rating of 9.1. The thirteenth Christmas special “Heroes and Villains” features the iconic moment when Del Boy and Rodney, dressed as Batman and Robin, emerge from the darkness to unintentionally stop a crime. The episode attracted 21.3 million viewers.
The remaining five spots in the rankings are claimed by Black Mirror episode “White Christmas” (2014), Downton Abbey and its “Christmas at Downton Abbey” (2011), Doctor Who and its festive sci-fi offering “The End of Time: Parts 1 and 2” (2009), Mr. Bean with his comedy outing of “Merry Christmas Mr. Bean” (1992) starring Rowan Atkinson. Lastly, Extras‘ “Christmas Special” (2007).
The Trotters of Only Fools and Horses, as regularly seen in reruns on UKTV’s U&Gold channel
Top 10 Highest Rated UK TV Xmas Specials via IMDb
|
Rank |
Series |
Episode |
IMDb Score |
Review Count |
Total Ranking |
|
1 |
Only Fools and Horses |
“Time on Our Hands” (1996) |
9.6 |
1,203 |
9.5 |
|
2 |
Only Fools and Horses |
“The Jolly Boys’ Outing” (1989) |
9.5 |
1,535 |
9.4 |
|
3 |
The Office |
“Christmas Special: Part 2” (2003) |
9.3 |
3,091 |
9.2 |
|
4 |
Downton Abbey |
“The Finale” (2015) |
9.2 |
2,578 |
9.1 |
|
Only Fools and Horses |
“Heroes and Villains” (1996) |
9.3 |
920 |
9.1 |
|
|
5 |
Black Mirror |
“White Christmas” (2014) |
9.1 |
70,040 |
9.0 |
|
Downton Abbey |
“Christmas at Downton Abbey” (2011) |
9.0 |
2,975 |
9.0 |
|
|
6 |
Doctor Who |
“The End of Time Parts 1 and 2” (2009) |
8.9 |
7,672 |
8.9 |
|
Mr. Bean |
“Merry Christmas Mr. Bean” (1992) |
8.9 |
2,850 |
8.9 |
|
|
Extras |
“Christmas Special” (2007) |
8.9 |
2,721 |
8.9 |
|
|
7 |
Only Fools and Horses |
“To Hull and Back” (1985) |
9.0 |
844 |
8.8 |
|
Downton Abbey |
“A Moorland Holiday” (2014) |
8.9 |
2,105 |
8.8 |
|
|
Yes Minister |
“Party Games” (1984) |
9.1 |
454 |
8.8 |
|
|
Peep Show |
“Seasonal Beatings” (2010) |
8.9 |
796 |
8.8 |
|
|
8 |
The Vicar of Dibley |
“The Christmas Lunch Incident” (1996) |
8.9 |
495 |
8.7 |
|
Only Fools and Horses |
“Dates” (1988) |
8.8 |
714 |
8.7 |
|
|
9 |
Father Ted |
“A Christmassy Ted” (1996) |
8.7 |
931 |
8.6 |
|
10 |
Call The Midwife |
“Christmas Special” (2013) |
8.7 |
533 |
8.5 |
|
Doctor Who |
“A Christmas Carol” (2010) |
8.5 |
8,867 |
8.5 |
|
|
Doctor Who |
“The Husbands of River Song” (2015) |
8.5 |
6,723 |
8.5 |
|
|
Only Fools and Horses |
“Modern Men” (1996) |
8.6 |
651 |
8.5 |
