The public broadcaster's BBC1 averaged a share of 55.9 percent by showing festivities tied to Queen Elizabeth II's 60th anniversary on the throne.




LONDON - The BBC's Sunday coverage of festivities tied to Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee drew a majority share of U.K. households watching TV, the public broadcaster said Monday.



In a ratings summary for its BBC1 network, it said the coverage of the festivities surrounding the Queen's 60th anniversary on the throne attracted an average of 10.3 million viewers, for a 55.9 percent share, during the 1:30-6pm time frame. The network provided coverage of a fleet pageant down the river Thames, led by the Queen, in that time slot. 



At its peak, the BBC brought in 11.9 million viewers, or a share of 61 percent.



On Sunday evening, BBC1 also aired an hour-long special featuring Take That's Gary Barlow, who is also a judge on the U.K. version of The X Factor. 

Gary Barlow: On Her Majesty's Service, which started at 7.45pm, averaged 6.4 million viewers, which amounted to a 27.7 percent.

The show, which followed Barlow on his mission to record a special song to celebrate the Queen's diamond jubilee, 
peaked at an audience of 7.6 million, or a 30.5 percent share.

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com

Twitter: @georgszalai