Survey reveals most popular festive TV scene

The nationwide study has produced a definitive list of our best scenes from Christmas Day episodes or specials - with Del Boy and Rodders’s 1996 hilarious superhero dress-up in Only Fools and Horses coming top with 40 per cent of the vote.

In second place was Morecambe and Wise’s iconic parody of Singin’ In The Rain in the classic 1967 sketch, while in third place was The Vicar of Dibley, Geraldine Granger struggling through her fourth turkey lunch of the day.

Also, in the top 10 were Father Ted getting lost in the lingerie section of a supermarket and last year’s heartfelt moment when Nessa proposes to Smithy on Gavin and Stacey.

The first soap entry came when Stacy Slater and Max Branning’s affair is revealed to the whole family while watching a DVD in a classic EastEnders episode from 2007. And rounding out the top 10 was Jim Royle weeping tears of joy when Denise, played by the late Caroline Ahern, gives birth to baby David in The Royle Family.

The research, conducted by BritBox to launch its Britmas collection featuring over 200 Christmas specials this Thursday, found that 88 per cent of us said festive TV is a vital part of any Christmas.

And this year we intend to watch a lot of it - at least three hours a day over the holiday period.

In fact, four in 10 Brits admit that this year especially they will be seeking out comforting and nostalgic television to enjoy over Christmas.

While a whopping six out of 10 people said they would prefer to watch classic TV than anything more modern.

Will Harrison, BritBox’s MD said: “We wanted to take a closer look at those classic Christmas television moments which so many of us enjoy throughout the festive season.

“After all, there is nothing better than rewatching our favourite shows and reliving the most iconic moments.”

The study also found that 83 per cent of the 1,500 Britons polled believe watching TV together helps families feel close.

And 30 percent of us claim that some of our favourite Christmas times have been spent watching TV with our family.

The study also found that seven in 10 of us watch more British TV over Christmas, with 52 per cent of those finding UK shows comforting, and 40 per cent claiming that Britain makes the best festive viewing.

TOP 25 FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS TV MOMENTS

Del Boy and Rodney dress as Batman and Robin, Heroes and Villains Only Fools and Horses (1996) 40%

Morecambe and Wise’s Singing In The Rain (1967) 28%

Geraldine Granger eats four Christmas lunches, The Vicar of Dibley: Christmas special (1996) 24%

Father Ted gets lost in the lingerie section (1996) 22%

Nessa proposes to Smithy on Gavin and Stacey (2019) 20%

Stacy reveals she is pregnant in Gavin and Stacey (2010) 18%

Alice Tinker’s Virgin Mary goes into labour in the nativity play, The Vicar of Dibley (2004) 17%

Stacy and Max’s affair is revealed to the whole family while watching a DVD, EastEnders (2007) 17%

Jim gets emotional while Denise gives birth in The Royle Family (1999) 16%

Ebenezer Blackadder wants to be less charitable, Blackadder’s Christmas Carol (1988) 15%

Den serving Angie divorce papers on Christmas Day, Eastenders (1986) 15%

Frank is put in charge of the nativity set, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em: Jessica’s First Christmas (1974) 13%

Tim kissing Dawn on The Office (2003) 13%

Hilda Ogden leaves Coronation Street (1987) 12%

A plane crashes into Emmerdale (1993) 11%

Tiffany Mitchell is run over by Frank Butcher, EastEnders (1998) 11%

The Grace Brothers staff dress up in novelty costumes, Are you being Served: Christmas Crackers (1975) 11%

Pauline Fowler dies under the Christmas tree, EastEnders (2006) 11%

The Desperate Hours, Fletcher and Godber brew illicit booze, Porridge (1976) 11%

The bomb explodes on Call The Midwife (2014) 10%