The most-watched TV programmes of 2017 have been revealed

The BBC has come out on top in a chart of the most-watched TV programmes of last year, despite losing The Great British Bake Off to Channel 4.

That was largely thanks to Sir David Attenborough and an incredible array of marine wildlife, as Blue Planet II topped the chart with 14 million people tuning in for episode one of the landmark nature documentary.

Despite the fact that this was down on the most-watched programme of 2016 (when 15.9 million saw Candice Brown win the final of Bake Off), it was enough for the BBC to hold on to its title as the home of the biggest TV audience of the year.

Over on Channel 4, the 2017 Bake Off final was watched by 10 million - six million down on the ratings for the 2016 final on BBC One, but the fourth biggest audience in Channel 4's 35-year history.

The Strictly Come Dancing final was the fifth most watched programme of 2017 (Photo: BBC)

The top 10 most watched TV programmes of 2017 were as follows:

10. Strictly Come DancingBBC1, 4 November, 11.96 million

9. Strictly Come DancingBBC1, 18 November, 12.05 million

8. Strictly Come DancingBBC1, 28 October, 12.28 million

7. Blue Planet II (episode 5)BBC1, 26 November, 12.62 million

6. I'm a Celebrity… (launch)ITV, 19 November, 12.69 million

5. Strictly Come Dancing (final)BBC1 16 December, 13.01 million