Top 10 Most-Watched TV Shows in Northern Ireland Unveiled

Top TV Programmes in Northern Ireland

Over the past year, the animated film The Grinch has emerged as the most-watched television programme in Northern Ireland. This Christmas classic, available on Netflix, attracted an impressive audience of 637,000 viewers, securing its position as the most viewed single episode on local TV screens.

Following The Grinch in popularity was the opening episode of the BBC series Blue Lights, which drew in 556,000 viewers for the start of its second season. Another standout was the highly anticipated finale of Gavin & Stacey, which aired on the BBC in 2024 and captured 478,000 viewers. Meanwhile, the first episode of Netflix’s Fool Me Once also gained traction, with 439,000 people tuning in.

UTV’s long-running reality series I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! saw 384,000 viewers for the first episode of its 24th season. The channel’s quiz show The 1% Club continued to be a hit, drawing in 367,000 viewers for episode six of its third series.

In addition, UTV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office reached 356,000 viewers for the fourth episode of its first season, matching the audience numbers of Netflix’s Minions: The Rise of Gru. Two other festive films rounded out the top 10. That Christmas, another Netflix release, had 335,000 viewers, while Home Alone 2: Lost in New York on UTV attracted 332,000 viewers.

Viewing Habits and Trends

These figures were compiled as part of Ofcom’s annual Media Nations report, which highlights shifting trends in media consumption across Northern Ireland. Traditional broadcasters like the BBC and UTV continue to hold significant shares of screen time, but streaming platforms such as Netflix and video-sharing services like YouTube have become integral parts of daily viewing habits.

On average, people in Northern Ireland spent 4 hours and 48 minutes watching video content at home each day over the past year—an increase of 18 minutes compared to the previous 12 months. While Northern Ireland once led the UK in live broadcast TV viewing, with audiences spending 2 hours and 6 minutes per day watching live TV, the landscape is evolving.

Subscription-video-on-demand services remain popular, with nearly three-quarters (74%) of households in Northern Ireland subscribed to at least one platform. Amazon Prime Video has surpassed Netflix as the most-subscribed service in the region, making it the only part of the UK where Netflix does not lead the market.

Despite this, the BBC and UTV still dominate the viewing landscape, with the BBC holding an 18% share of all video viewing and UTV close behind at 15%. YouTube now holds a 12% share, just behind the traditional broadcasters.

Insights from Ofcom

Jonathan Rose, Ofcom’s Northern Ireland Director, highlighted the growing screen time among residents. “People in Northern Ireland are spending more time than ever in front of their screens,” he said. “Broadcast TV remains popular, but streamers like Amazon Prime Video and video-sharing platforms like YouTube are also now a firmly established part of our daily viewing diet.”

He also noted the enduring appeal of radio, particularly local radio. Listeners in Northern Ireland maintain a strong connection with local voices, news, and views that reflect events happening in their communities.

Top 10 Most Watched TV Programmes in Northern Ireland

Here is a breakdown of the top 10 most watched programmes:

• 1. The Grinch – Films, Netflix – 637,000
• 2. Blue Lights – Drama, BBC – 556,000
• 3. Gavin & Stacey – Entertainment, BBC – 478,000
• 4. Fool Me Once – Drama, Netflix – 439,000
• 5. I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! – Entertainment, UTV – 384,000
• 6. The 1% Club – Entertainment, UTV – 367,000
• 7. Mr Bates vs The Post Office – Drama, UTV – 356,000
• 8. Minions: The Rise of Gru – Films, Netflix – 356,000
• 9. That Christmas – Films, Netflix – 335,000
• 10. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York – Films, UTV – 332,000