'The Only Way Is Essexmas' edges out 'Life's Too Short' in ratings

Published Dec 21 2011, 11:36 GMT  |  By Paul Millar

The Only Way Is Essexmas proved a ratings winner on Tuesday night.

The TOWIE Christmas special, starring Joey Essex, Lauren Goodger and the gang, pulled in 1.15m (6.1%) in the 10pm hour, along with 254k (2.3%) on ITV2 +1.

The ITV2 reality show did enough to pip Ricky Gervais sitcom Life's Too Short, which concluded with 1.13m (5.6%), as well as Vernon Kay's Home for the Holidays (762k/4.1%) for Channel 4, and Channel 5's repeat of CSI (875k/4.6%).

But the most-watched multichannel show went to BBC Three's Don't Tell The Bride, after last night's festive one-off took 1.21m (5%) in the 9pm hour.

Unlike TOWIE, though, Don't Tell The Bride did not beat any terrestrial opposition, with the latest Young James Herriot topping the hour with 4.15m (17.4%) for BBC One, which had a strong night with EastEnders and Holby City leading the way.

Also at 9pm, Jamie's Christmas with Bells On averaged a solid 1.9m (7.9%) for Channel 4 (+1: 317/1.7%), while CSI: Miami logged 1.84m (7.7%) for Channel 5, and ITV1's Comedy Annual amused 2.47m (10.3%) and 213k (1.1%) on timeshift.

Meanwhile, a Mock the Week review show managed 2.03m (8.4%) for BBC Two, after which the series finale of Rev. drew a decent 1.45m (6.1%) at 9.30pm.

Acclaimed documentary The Butlin's Story logged a respectable 3.34m (14.4%) for ITV1 at 8pm (+1: 283k/1.2%), ahead of The Hairy Bikers' Christmas Party which had 2.62m (11.3%) for BBC Two, Channel 4's Food Hospital (1.02m/5.4%), and Channel 5's Monster Munch (783k/3.4%).

BBC One reigned victorious in primetime with 21.7%, easily ahead of ITV1's 13.7% (+1: 0.7%). BBC Two held a strong third position with 8.1%, while Channel 4 and Channel 5 tied in fourth with 4.8% (C4 +1: 0.8%).

BARB ratings data supplied by Attentional