Daily Mail: Gogglebox becomes the most watched non-royal show as series premiere is seen by 2.6million - after viewers praised show for 'bringing normality' after Queen's death

Story from Daily Mail:

Gogglebox became the most watched non-royal programme on Friday with 2.63million people tuning in.

The Channel 4 show returned for a new series and was one of the few programmes still on air in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II's death on Thursday.

ITV schedules have been suspended following the monarch's passing with the majority of regular programming cancelled to provide ongoing new coverage.

Of the remaining shows still on air, EastEnders on BBC Two was the second most-watched non-royal show with 1.56million viewers while Gardeners' World was number three with 1.52million.

BBC Two aired every other show in the top five, with Pointless watched by 1.36million viewers and Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing reaching 1.35million.

While Gogglebox aired at 9pm, the following show The Last Leg was pulled from screens with host Adam Hills saying it didn't 'feel right' to do it.

He wrote on Twitter: 'We’ve decided not to do an episode of tonight. It just doesn’t feel right. We’ll pay tribute to Her Majesty next week but for now our thoughts are with her family, and all those affected by the news. We hope you understand.'

The BBC must uphold editorial restrictions following the death of Her Majesty for a number of days and whilst others are not required to do so they have conformed.

Both Emmerdale and Coronation have been cancelled for the rest of the week, schedule's are subject to change and it is not yet known when channels will return planned programming.

Gogglebox fans praised the show for bringing a 'sense of normality' in the wake of the Queen's death.

Viewers were relieved to see their favourite armchair commentators with one saying it was 'the comfort we all need'.

Taking to Twitter one viewer wrote: 'Really grateful to Channel 4 for broadcasting Gogglebox tonight. As sad as the new is, this is the comfort viewing we all need tonight'.

While another added: ' Love love love Gogglebox, what a welcome relief after a bad day' and another said of the show 'We need something to cheer us up'.

More wrote: 'Glad for a bit of normality, been looking forward to this all week' and 'I'm so glad Gogglebox is back just for some escapism'.

Another said: 'I'm so glad Channel 4 decided to still show Gogglebox tonight. A welcome break. A brief distraction. I understand the need for rolling news coverage on other channels. And I've been watching a lot of it. But it's nice to also have the option of something lighter to watch'.

And another commented: 'Good, we need a little lift today' with another agreeing: 'Thank goodness for that'.

Channel Four released a statement explaining their decision to air the show that was filmed before Her Majesty's passing.

'Channel 4 exists to offer viewers an alternative and that is particularly important at times like this'.

'Gogglebox is a much loved national institution and it will air as planned tonight bringing a valuable sense of continuity for many of our viewers.