[Jackie]

EASTENDERS' tears and misery won the BBC its highest Christmas ratings in four years - scooping more than 13 million viewers.

A staggering 13.9 million tuned in to watch as Stacey Slater and Max Branning's affair was finally rumbled.

It's a massive ratings boost for the BBC1 soap - which got 10.7 million last Christmas.

The fallout from the fling - caught on Stacey's wedding video and watched by their distraught family - was spectacular.

Sobbing Tanya (Jo Joyner) tumbled down the stairs during a row with cheating hubby Max (Jake Wood).

While Stacey (Lacey Turner) was left battling to save her marriage to Max’s son Bradley (Charlie Clements).

Meanwhile, Kylie Minogue’s guest appearance on the Doctor Who Christmas special got the series its highest ratings since it was revived.

The BBC1 sci-fi hit was watched by 12.2 million people - half the available audience.

That's up from 8.7 million viewers last Christmas.

The return of 70s classic sitcom To The Manor Born proved welcome as it scooped 9.8 million.

And hit flick Shrek 2 got 9.1 million and the Strictly Come Dancing special got 8.3 million.

Last year's Christmas favourite was The Vicar of Dibley with 11.4 million viewers.

Six million people watched the Queen's annual broadcast at 3pm - an audience share of 41.7 per cent.

But ITV1's Coronation Street also drew in fans to watch as another affair - Rosie Webster's secret romance with her teacher John Stape - was discovered by her dad Kevin.

Roly Keating, Acting Controller BBC ONE said: "It's heartening to see that the great tradition of Christmas family viewing seems to be alive and well.

"We were delighted that audiences found so much to enjoy in our line-up of programmes on BBC One.

"From the compelling drama of EastEnders to a spectacular Doctor Who and the welcome return of To The Manor Born, this was a Christmas when some of the nation's favourite performers and writers did us all proud."

The combined peak share of audience for BBC1 and BBC2 was 51.7 per cent this year, while, last year it was 44.4 per cent.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "This is considerably higher than the last few years and means that more than half of available viewers watching TV in the evening were watching programmes on the BBC."


CHRISTMAS DAY TOP TEN 2007:


- EastEnders (BBC1): 13.9m

- Doctor Who (BBC1): 12.2m

- EastEnders (BBC1): 11.6m

- News At 6.05pm (BBC1): 10.4m

- To The Manor Born (BBC1): 9.8m

- Shrek 2 (BBC1): 9.1m

- Coronation Street (ITV1): 8.9m.

- Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1): 8.3m.

- Finding Nemo (BBC1): 7.1m.

- The Catherine Tate Christmas Show (BBC1): 6.4m.