The 2014 Royal Variety Performance topped the ratings outside soaps on Monday, overnight data reveals.
However, the Michael McIntyre-hosted event was down by almost a million from last year, attracting an average 6.52 million (28.7%) at 7.30pm on ITV (348,000/1.8% on +1). It was also down by nearly 2m from 2012's performance.
On BBC One, Panorama intrigued 2.92m (12.5%) at 8.30pm, followed by Richard Hammond's Wild Weather with 2.48m (10.7%) at 9pm.
BBC Two's Strictly: It Takes Two entertained 2.30m (11.6%) at 6.30pm, while the FA Cup Draw scored 2.59m (12.5%) at 7pm. University Challenge quizzed 2.57m (10.5%) at 8pm, followed by Only Connect with 2.01m (8.6%) at 8.30pm.
Posh People continued with 1.25m (5.4%) at 9pm, while Never Mind the Buzzcocks amused 892k (5.0%) at 10pm.
On Channel 4, Jamie Oliver's Cracking Christmas appealed to 1.37m (5.7%) at 8pm (298k/1.3%), followed by Skint with 1.10m (4.8%) at 9pm (267k/1.7%).
Channel 5's latest episode of Gotham thrilled 920k (4.0%) at 9pm (131k/0.8%).
On E4, Made in Chelsea continued with 455k (2.0%) at 9pm (179k/1.1%). On BBC Three, Some Girls brought in 408k (2.2%) at 10pm.
