Most watched UK TV broadcasts ever: from Boris’s lockdown address to Princess Diana’s wedding

Televised speech to nation racked up more than 27 million viewers, making it the eighth most watched broadcast in UK history

Boris Johnson address
Viewers watch Boris Johnson’s address from their living room
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Monday’s televised announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson - in which he announced strict new measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak - has become one of the most watched TV broadcasts in UK history.

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Row 0 - Cell 0 EventDateViewers
11966 Fifa World Cup final: England vs. West Germany30 Jul 196632.30m
2Funeral of Princess Diana6 Sep 199732.10m
3Royal Family (documentary)21 Jun 196930.69m
4Apollo 13 splashdown17 Apr 197028.60m
51970 FA Cup final replay: Chelsea vs. Leeds United29 Apr 197028.49m
6Wedding of Charles and Diana29 Jul 198128.40m
7Wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips14 Nov 197327.60m
8Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s statement on Covid-1923 Mar 202027.10m
92012 London Games closing ceremony12 Aug 201224.46m
102012 London Games opening ceremony27 Jul 201224.24m
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