The millions of viewers flocking to Gavin & Stacey shows that, at Christmas, appointment TV still reigns supreme

Even in the age of streaming, a big reunion or scandalous storyline can bring the country together

Back to Barry: the Gavin & Stacey cast in this year’s Christmas special (BBC)

The Gavin & Stacey reunion special pulled in a whopping 11.6m viewers on Christmas Day, making it the most-watched TV show of the decade.

One can theorise on the reason for this. Was it because, in another year when the festive schedules were packed with endless repeats and the usual, agonising Mrs Brown’s Boys special, there was practically nothing else worth watching?

Or perhaps it was because, at precisely 8.30pm on Christmas Day, several million of us were rendered incapacitated by mince pies, roast turkey and the entire contents of the drinks cabinet?