My Big Fat Gypsy Christmas handed Channel 4 an early present last night, giving the final episode of BBC1’s Death in Paradise a run for its money.

The seasonal special of the fly-on-the-wall show following traveller weddings - and starring Celebrity Big Brother 2011 winner Paddy Doherty - pulled in an average of 5.1 million viewers, a 20.5 per cent audience share, against 5.3 million and 21.4 per cent for the BBC’s gentle detective drama. But viewers on Channel 4+1 edged Gypsy Christmas just ahead, making a total of 5.8 million viewers and a 23.4 per cent share of the 9pm slot.

Meanwhile, the conclusion to BBC2’s three-part economics documentary, Money, was watched by just 1.9 million people (7.7 per cent) and ITV1’s My Child’s Not Perfect, about youngsters with behavioural, emotional and clinical issues, trailed even further behind with 1.7 million viewers and a 6.7 per cent share.

Channel 4 continued a night to celebrate with an average of 2.5 million tuning in to the first episode of Shane Meadows sequel This Is England ’88 at 10pm, making it the broadcaster’s most watched drama launch of the year, ahead of Charlie Brooker's satire, Black Mirror.