Gavin and Stacey: The Finale wins Christmas Day ratings battle with 12.5 MILLION viewers

THE Christmas Day ratings battle was won by Gavin and Stacey: The Finale – with 12.5million viewers and climbing.

Part two of the 2019 BBC special was must-watch telly last night.

It spelled the end of Ruth Jones and James Corden‘s series for ever – 17 years after it was first created.

Overnight figures show Gavin and Stacey attracted the largest Christmas Day audience since 2008.

It was a big day for the BBC, with the return of Wallace & Gromit after 14 years bringing in 10m for Vengeance Most Fowl.

And it was a huge Christmas for EastEnders – with an astonishing 8.7m watching Cindy Beale clobbered with a shovel and left for dead.

EastEnders’ huge bounce comes as a result of being aired after Gavin and Stacey. 

Just 2.8m tuned in to watch Gail Platt’s goodbye on Coronation Street. 

Meanwhile some 5.1m watched The King’s Speech, and 6.9m sat down for the Call The Midwife Christmas Special. 

Viewing figures are based on overnight TV ratings – not including those who watch Christmas specials on catch-up services during the rest of the festive period.

At the end of the day, when all’s said and done, Gavin and Stacey delivered an unforgettable final episode.

Fans broke down in tears as Nessa and Smithy finally said: “I do” after a shock twist.

Meanwhile Stacey and Jason’s mum Gwen found love with Nessa’s ex, Dave Coaches.

And viewers were on tenterhooks waiting to hear the truth behind Uncle Bryn and Jason’s fabled fishing trip – but the story remains untold.

The one-off episode, which aired at 9pm, has been confirmed as the final instalment of Gavin & Stacey, which first screened in May 2007, after three series and three Christmas specials.