The most-watched shows and films in the UK
Key Points
- The most-watched show in Q1 2026 was The Traitors, followed by The Night Manager.
- The BBC dominated the most-watched list in the first quarter of this year, but in 2025, four of the most-watched titles were on Netflix.
- Global phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters topped the list of most-watched titles in 2025, followed by the first episode of Adolescence.
Ofcom has published its Media Nations UK 2026 Report, revealing the most-watched programmes and films in the country.
In the first quarter of 2026, the BBC dominated the rankings of the ten most-watched programmes or films, with only two titles appearing on the list from another broadcaster – Netflix.
Half of the top ten titles were dramas, and another four were episodes of programmes categorised under the entertainment genre.
The list was topped by the first episode of season 4 of The Traitors, followed by the first episode of season 2 of the BBC’s The Night Manager.
Also featured in the rankings were episodes of Stranger Things and Run Away on Netflix, and the documentary Wild London on the BBC.
Most-watched titles in Q1 2026
Below are the ten most-watched programmes or films in the first quarter of 2026 in the UK:
| Rank | Title | Genre | Service | Episode | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Traitors | Entertainment | BBC | Series 4, Episode 1 | 13 million |
| 2 | The Night Manager | Drama | BBC | Series 2, Episode 1 | 9.5 million |
| 3 | The Traitors: Uncloaked | Entertainment | BBC | Series 4, Episode 12 | 8 million |
| 4 | Small Prophets | Entertainment | BBC | Series 1, Episode 1 | 8 million |
| 5 | Run Away | Drama | Netflix | Series 1, Episode 1 | 7.4 million |
| 6 | Stranger Things | Drama | Netflix | Series 5, Episode 8 | 7.3 million |
| 7 | Call the Midwife | Drama | BBC | Series 15, Episode 1 | 7.2 million |
| 8 | Silent Witness | Drama | BBC | Series 29, Episode 1 | 7.0 million |
| 9 | Death in Paradise | Drama | BBC | Series 16, Episode 1 | 6.8 million |
| 10 | Wild London | Documentaries | BBC | Series 2026 | 6.7 million |
While entertainment as a genre saw the biggest overall decline in viewing, shows like The Celebrity Traitors still easily took a spot in the top ten most-watched programmes or films in the UK last year.
In 2025, the most-watched film or show was KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix, with an audience of more than 24 million viewers. It was followed by the first episode of Adolescence, which attracted 16 million viewers.
The top ten most-watched programmes in 2025 were mostly populated by shows on Netflix and the BBC, although Moana 2 on Disney+ and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! on ITV also made appearances in the rankings.
Most-watched titles in 2025
The table below shows the most-watched films and programmes in 2025.
| Rank | Title | Genre | Service | Episode | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KPop Demon Hunters | Films | Netflix | – | 24.4 million |
| 2 | Adolescence | Drama | Netflix | Series 1, Episode 1 | 16 million |
| 3 | The Celebrity Traitors | Entertainment | BBC | Series 1, Episode 9 | 14.8 million |
| 4 | The Thursday Murder Club | Films | Netflix | – | 12.1 million |
| 5 | Moana 2 | Films | Disney+ | – | 11.3 million |
| 6 | The Traitors | Entertainment | BBC | Series 3, Episode 1 | 10.9 million |
| 7 | The Super Mario Bros. Movie | Films | Netflix | – | 10.7 million |
| 8 | Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl | Films | BBC | – | 10.2 million |
| 9 | I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! | Entertainment | ITV/STV | Series 25, Episode 1 | 9.9 million |
| 10 | Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell | Documentaries | BBC | 2025 | 9.7 million |
