Top Christmas Day UK TV Programme Odds: Call The Midwife Can Deliver Victory
The top Christmas Day TV show is a festive battle the UK public can get behind, or in front of on their sofas, and this year's ratings duel looks just as mouth-watering as last year's tasty fixture.
In 2024, betting sites favourite Gavin & Stacey's last-ever episode defeated Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl in the overnight ratings.
While cheese lover Wallace and his cunning canine came roaring back, with Vengeance Most Fowl amassing 21.6million viewers over a 28-day period and Gavin & Stacey pulling in 20.9m, it was James Corden and Ruth Jones' sitcom that landed punters some late 2025 pocket money.
This year, it's royalty versus midwives, as King Charles' festive speech takes on the Call the Midwife festive special.
Call The Midwife To Topple The King?
Earlier this month, Charles shared a recorded video message for Channel 4's Stand Up To Cancer campaign.
In the video, the King told of "good news" about his cancer battle, admitting his treatment will be reduced in the new year.
He said in the message: "This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care."
If this is a taste of what's to come in his Christmas Day broadcast, then backers could be celebrating after their dinner.
A special message from The King, in support of Stand Up To Cancer. 🧡
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) December 12, 2025
As part of this year’s @SU2CUK campaign, @CR_UK and @Channel4, with support from the @NHS, have launched a nationwide Screening Checker to help people find out which cancer screening programmes they are… pic.twitter.com/K5kSQ0Utx3
The King's Speech (BBC One) is 6/5 with Bet365 to be the top Christmas Day TV show, but as short as 8/13 with some entertainment betting sites.
Some might be surprised to see the royal event still at the top of Christmas schedules, especially with a smorgasbord of channels, shows and movies to choose from nowadays.
But the King may be toppled by a BBC drama this year.
Call the Midwife is a best-priced 2/1 with Betfred, but the series is just 8/11 favourite with Bet365 to be the most-watched Christmas Day TV show.
In case you’ve heard any reports to the contrary this morning… The BBC would like to reassure fans that Call The Midwife will remain at the heart of the BBC for years to come.
— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) June 26, 2025
As previously announced, there are two Christmas specials, a new series, a film and prequel series,… pic.twitter.com/C0ZcDWgmwG
And if last year is anything to go by, then Call the Midwife could deliver victory over the King in 2025.
In 2024, the Call the Midwife festive special attracted more than 7.7m viewers, in Barb's seven-day consolidation figures, and it was only beaten by Gavin & Stacey's 19.2m and Wallace & Gromit's 17.1m ratings.
The King performed well with 6.7m, but Charles still fell around one million short of his nearest 2025 challenger Call the Midwife, which could be the value pick this year.
Top Christmas TV Programme Betting Odds:
TV Programme | Odds | Betting Site |
|---|---|---|
The King's Speech | 5/4 | |
Call The Midwife | 2/1 | |
Strictly Come Dancing | 20/1 | |
The Great British Bake Off | 33/1 | |
Mrs Brown's Boys | 50/1 | |
Shaun The Sheep | 50/1 | |
EastEnders - Part Two | 50/1 | |
Michael McIntyre's Christmas Wheel | 66/1 | |
Bullseye | 66/1 | |
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical | 66/1 | |
Amandaland | 80/1 | |
The 1% Club | 100/1 | |
Celebrity Gladiators | 150/1 | |
Emmerdale | 200/1 | |
The Weakest Link | 200/1 | |
Coronation Street | 200/1 |
Tess And Claudia's Last Dance
Strictly Come Dancing was 12th in the rankings, with nearly 5.4m viewers tuning in, but it's third favourite on betting apps to be this year's top TV show on Christmas Day.
However, there are some varied prices among UK bookmakers.
The BBC Latin and ballroom show's festive special is a best-priced 20/1 with Bet365, but as short as 7/2 with Betfred.
It would be no surprise at all if it waltzed further to the front of Barb's rankings than last year, because the Christmas special will see co-hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman bow out.
The presenters landed a bombshell blow to Strictly fans in October, by announcing they are quitting the series this year - and the festive episode will be their last dance.
Tess - who has hosted Strictly since it started in 2004 - and Claudia's upcoming departure will no doubt add some more viewers to the ratings, but will it be enough to overcome the King or Call the Midwife?
Probably not.
However, if any show is going to defeat the two frontrunners, then Strictly is the best hope.
Mrs Brown's Boys has topped the Christmas Day schedule multiple times in the past, but it would be a shock if the BBC show did so this year.
Alongside EastEnders, Mrs Brown's Boys is a 50/1 outsider with Bet365 to clinch top spot this Christmas, but the BBC One soap is just 12/1 with Ladbrokes.
Elsewhere, The Great British Bake Off is a 33/1 chance with Betfred.
1% Chance Of Christmas Day Ratings Victory?
Game shows tend to be family favourites on Christmas Day, but they are very much longshots to be the most watched TV shows this year.
Lee Mack's The 1% Club was watched by 6.4m last year, according to Barb's seven-day ratings, but it is a massive 100/1 with Bet365 to win the festive ratings battle in 2025.
Elsewhere, Michael McIntyre's Christmas Wheel is a 66/1 outsider with the same bookmaker, but as short as 20/1 with Coral, and Bullseye is 66/1 with Betfred.
One show that will be sure to provide some laughs this year is the festive special of BBC sitcom Amandaland.
However, it doesn't look likely to trouble the King or Call the Midwife at the top of the ratings leaderboard.
Amandaland is 80/1 with Bet365 to triumph, while Celebrity Gladiators is almost double those odds at 150/1.
However, the show is well in front of 200/1 soap longshots Emmerdale and Coronation Street, which finished 28th and 17th respectively - in the seven-day ratings - last year.
While Corrie is only 20/1 with Ladbrokes, and Emmerdale is 25/1 with Coral, it would be a huge soap shock if either won the festive ratings war this year.
Which programme will you be watching on Christmas Day? Tell us your thoughts in the comment box below!
