Halifax's most valued television programmes revealed

Out of focus TV LCD set and remote control in man's hand isolated over a white background.

The organisation, which this year marks the 70th year since the introduction of the first combined radio and TV Licence, has examined Twitter mentions of “worth the licence fee” over the past year to draw up a list of the most popular programmes across the country.

Viewers increasingly turn to social media sites such as Twitter to discuss their TV preferences, and in the past year more than 300 individual BBC programmes and services have been linked to the value of the Licence Fee.

Popular programmes with Halifax viewers included Doctor Who and Gypsy Live.

Dramas and nature documentaries are the genres driving online engagement in Halifax, according to data gathered by TV Licensing, with thousands of appreciations for shows and programmes viewers deem “worth the licence fee”.

Matthew Thompson, for TV Licensing, said: “Twitter is a powerful way of sharing your appreciation of your favourite show and the data indicates just how important these landmark TV shows are to Licence Fee payers.

“The Licence Fee is used to fund the BBC’s programmes and services, and it’s interesting to note people still engage with these shows in real-time. Despite changes in new ways of watching, more than 95 per cent of all viewing is live, with Licence Fee payers covered to watch on their TV, phones or tablets.”

The phrase, used more than 12,000 times, shows which programmes, services and presenters or actors Licence Fee payers truly value in relation to the cost of their annual Licence Fee.

The Night Manager, the show that had everyone hooked on the antics of arms dealer Richard Roper, proved to be most popular with Twitter users across the whole of the UK taking first place for unique mentions of a TV series (492 mentions).

Sir David Attenborough’s documentary series “The Hunt” also claimed one of the top spots, with more than 570 Twitter users declaring the programme, or the broader work of the veteran broadcaster, worth their Licence Fee alone.

The top 10 programmes deemed “worth the licence fee” by viewers across the UK

· The Night Manager (492 mentions)

· The Hunt (403 mentions)

· Happy Valley (241 mentions)

· BBC Proms (166 mentions)

· Panorama (156 mentions)

· Strictly Come Dancing (123 mentions)

· DIY SOS (106 mentions)

· Line of Duty (106 mentions)

· Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owner (100 mentions)

· War & Peace (97 mentions)