Eastenders Live Viewing Figures

The live Eastenders episode was a massive winner for the BBC as 16.6 million viewers tuned in to find out who murdered Archie for the 25th anniversary special.

Viewing figures peaked as Stacey Slater confessed all as Bradley Branning fell to his death in the dramatic live episode, with the episode averaging just under 15m and another 1.42m tuning in for the repeat on BBC3 later.

Eastenders live had almost six out of every ten viewers watching the conclusion of one of soaps best kept secrets ever, easily beating rivals and producing one of the best Eastenders viewing figures in years. The Christmas Day 1986 episode of 30.15m still remains the most watched British soap as Den Watts handed divorce papers to his wife Angie.

It was also a record night for BBC3, which saw 4.3m tune in for Eastenders Live: The Aftermath. This was the highest viewed programme ever on BBC3 and a new record for a multichannel programme.

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Sarah Platt Set For Coronation Street Return

Tina O'Brien could be back on our screens as Sarah Platt in Coronation Street in an explosive storyline this Christmas. The actress was hugely popular with viewers before quitting the top rated soap back in April 2007, as she sought to pursue a career outside of Coronation Street.

Since leaving Coronation Street, Tina has started a family and turned down other projects to focus on her new born child Scarlett with her Coronation Street co-star Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw).

Sarah Platt left Manchester for a new life in Italy with her daughter Bethany but a return to Coronation Street at the end of the year would certainly be a ratings winner for the ITV soap.

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TV: Emmerdale Beats Eastenders In Ratings Battle

ITV's Emmerdale has won the head to head soap battle against the BBC's Eastenders. Last night the popular soaps were shown at the same time as Emmerdale aired an hour long episode between 7 and 8pm, featuring Katie going into labour. It was watched by 5.8m (33% audience share), beating Eastenders by almost a million.

Eastenders storyline of Tanya calling a peace meeting with her estranged husband Max failed to ignite viewers, just 4.9m tuned in, giving Eastenders it's fourth worse viewing figure of the past five years. Often when the two soaps go head to head, it is the BBC who emerge victorious - but this week it will be ITV who can claim the soap battle victory.