Most Watched TV Presenter
Gary Lineker is the UK's top TV presenter - watched by more viewers than anyone else in 2006, according to new viewing figures revealed today.
The BBC's frontman of the World Cup and Match Of The Day was seen by two-thirds of the viewing nation this year (36.4 million).
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? host Chris Tarrant is the second-most watched presenter - seen by 32.9 million.
Davina McCall is the most-watched female TV presenter of the year with 30.7 million viewers.
McCall came fourth overall, behind Phillip Schofield, who supplemented his This Morning ratings with ITV show Dancing On Ice to take third spot (32.4 million).
Noel Edmonds, who found success again with Channel 4 quiz Deal Or No Deal, is fifth with 27.6 million.
He is followed by ITV sports presenter Steve Rider (27.4 million), X Factor host Kate Thornton (27 million), Ant and Dec (26.4 million), Tess Daly (26.2 million) and Fern Britton (26.1 million).
Five of the six most-watched presenters this year are men over 40, according to the research by media agency Media Planning Group (MPG), which has analysed TV viewing since the start of the year.
Lineker is 46, Tarrant 60, Schofield 44, Edmonds 58, and Rider is 55.
Jim McDonald, head of broadcast at MPG, said: “This list gives us some fantastic insight into which personalities British TV viewers are tuning into watch.
“And they seem to know what they like, with tried and tested favourites commanding the top positions.
“Key sporting events always prove popular with viewers, but the right presenter can magnify the effect and broaden the appeal to a wider audience.
“This year’s sporting summit, the World Cup, proved a strong pull for both the BBC, with Gary Lineker, and ITV, with Steve Rider.
“But sport isn’t the only genre in which budding TV presenters can make it big. The study shows that if you want to be heavily watched, don’t think twice about taking a slot as a quiz master, chat-show host or presenting a reality TV phenomenon.”
waveguide
