Northern Ireland's top 10 most watched shows in 2022 revealed

Author: Emma DicksonPublished 3rd Aug 2023

According to Ofcom’s latest Media Nations report for Northern Ireland, people aged 16-24 spend 31 minutes in front of broadcast TV in an average day – down by 22% since 2021.

The return of Derry Girls was the most-watched programme last year. The first episode of the final series was watched by an average of 495,000 on Channel 4.

Homegrown talent continues to draw in audience numbers, with two other local actors popping up in last year’s most-watched list.

Jamie Dornan with BBC’s The Tourist and James Nesbitt with crime drama Bloodlands.

Netflix remains the most popular SVoD service in Northern Ireland, followed by Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.

Other platforms such as Apple TV+, Paramount + and Hayu (reality TV) continue to grow in popularity also.

Today’s Ofcom report also revealed that more people listen to radio in Northern Ireland than in other nations in the UK, with almost 92% of the adult population. (1.4 million) listening for an average of 19 hours and 54 mins each week.

Check out the top ten most watched TV programmes in Northern Ireland, 2021 👇

Derry Girls

495,000 audience

I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

462,000 audience

The Tourist

388,000 audience

The State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II (Part 2)

346,000 audience

The State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II (Part 1)

308,000 audience

The King's Christmas Day message

292,000 audience

BBC News at Six

290,000 audience

Trigger Point

289,000 audience

Bloodlands

284,000 audience

Strictly Come Dancing

283,000 audience

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How to listen to Downtown Radio:

Tune into Northern Ireland's Home of Great Music, Downtown Radio on FM, AM, DAB Digital Radio, online, on our Rayo app and by asking your smart speaker to 'Play Downtown Radio'. Gary & Glen kick things off every weekday morning and Neal McClelland brings you home on Downtown Drive.