The millions of viewers flocking to Gavin & Stacey shows that, at Christmas, appointment TV still reigns supreme

Even in the age of streaming, a big reunion or scandalous storyline can bring the country together

Back to Barry: the Gavin & Stacey cast in this year’s Christmas special (BBC)

The Gavin & Stacey reunion special pulled in a whopping 11.6m viewers on Christmas Day, making it the most-watched TV show of the decade.

One can theorise on the reason for this. Was it because, in another year when the festive schedules were packed with endless repeats and the usual, agonising Mrs Brown’s Boys special, there was practically nothing else worth watching?

Or perhaps it was because, at precisely 8.30pm on Christmas Day, several million of us were rendered incapacitated by mince pies, roast turkey and the entire contents of the drinks cabinet?

Any of the above could have led to the show’s ratings success, but it’s more likely down to the fact that the British just bloody well love a good old reunion – especially one as soft and cuddly as Gavin & Stacey.

At a time when the nation is divided by Brexit and the British comedy scene is bursting with spiky satire and controversy, this beloved sitcom made its return just when we needed a gentle dose of low-stakes laughter – Rob Brydon on the verge of a nervous breakdown overcooking the Christmas dinner, for example.

EastEnders, meanwhile, beat Coronation Street in the battle of the soaps, with 5.5m viewers flocking to witness Phil hurling a chair at Sharon after discovering – spoiler alert – that Keanu was the father of her unborn baby. Its catastrophic Christmas day episodes do well every year, showing that a miserable plot development always goes down a treat with the British viewing public over the festive holidays.

These figures are rare in the streaming age, when many people would prefer to devour several dozen episodes of Friends they’ve watched countless times before rather than sit down together on the sofa and tune in to scheduled TV.

So terrestrial commissioners, it seems like there’s hope for you yet – especially when it comes to reviving a classic comedy. Better put some calls in to the surviving members of the Royle Family in time for next Christmas...

Yours,

Ellie Harrison

Culture reporter