EastEnders was the most-watched Christmas Day broadcast for the fourth consecutive year.
However, all shows put in weaker performances compared to previous years, with Coronation Street making runner-up ahead of Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife.
Derek Branning's downfall and the discovery of Max's other wife was witnessed by an average of 9.37m (34.3%) between 8.45pm and 9.45pm, peaking with 9.8m for the EastEnd villain's fatal heart attack.
BBC One controller Danny Cohen said in a statement: "It's been brilliant to see so many viewers watching BBC One on Christmas Day.
"Audiences tuned in for unmissable special episodes of their favourite shows - with EastEnders topping the table as the most popular show of the day peaking at 9.8 million viewers."
Leanne Battersby's wedding day jilting of Nick Tilsley in Corrie's hour-long festive edition from 7.30pm to 8.30pm logged 8.58m (33.5%) as well as 254,000 on ITV1 +1.
Call the Midwife took 7.27m (27.3%) on BBC One from 7.30pm, prior to which Doctor Who (7.58m/33.9%) and Strictly Come Dancing (7.76m/33.3%) were screened.
Back on ITV1, Downton Abbey dazzled 6.83m (25.9%) between 8.45pm and 10.45pm, adding 488k on +1. And an early visit to Emmerdale attracted 4.69m (20.7%) at 5.30pm (+1: 232k), after which Cameron's burial of Alex mustered 5.98m (24.7%) at 7pm (+1: 248k).
Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs secured 4.12m (18.2%) in the 6pm hour, appealing to a further 188k on timeshift.
Channel 4's showing of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring picked up 1.82m (7.5%) between 5.45pm and 9pm (+1: 330k), after which 1.28m (4.7%) watched Alan Carr: Chatty Man as well as 336k on timeshift.
Blackadder's Christmas Carol ranked as BBC Two's best-rated broadcast of the day with 1.43m (5.5%) at 8pm.
BBC One outperformed ITV1 in primetime with 31.1% versus 26.5% (+1: 1.2%), while Channel 4 clinched third place with 5.9% (+1: 1.4%) and BBC Two had 5.1%.
BBC Three (3%) managed to usurp Channel 5 into fifth place with its screening of The Incredibles (1.07m/4.1%) beating 5's marathon of Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers, the highest-rated of which grabbed 602k (2.3%).
The Queen's Speech pulled in a total of 8.3 million with 6.27m (36.7%) watching the 3pm broadcast on BBC One and a further 2.02m (11.9%) tuning in on ITV1 (+1: 208k).
