The Euro 2020 final between England and Italy was the third most watched TV event of all time.
A whopping 31.1 million people tuned into the nail-biting game on Sunday evening, which saw the Italian team beat England 3-2 after it went to penalties.
Ratings peaked during the penalty shootout between the two teams, and an average of 29.85 million watched the whole match across the BBC and ITV.
The combined viewing figures makes the game the highest TV audience since the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997, with viewing figures peaking then at 32.10 million.
Ahead of both events is the World Cup 1966 final, which was the most watched TV event at all time with 32.3 million viewers.
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But the the total audience figure for the Euro 2020 broadcast could rise further once statistics for those watching the game online on BBC iPlayer or ITV Hub are released later.
25 million people watched the game on BBC One, with an average of 17.8 million viewers and a 66.7 per cent share.
ITV1 had a 6.1million peak, 4 million average and 15.4 per cent share.
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Last night’s total was also significantly above Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s lockdown address to Britain in March 2020, which was watched by 28 million viewers over six TV channels.
Millions across the country had tuned in to watch England’s road to the final.
The semi-final against Denmark last Wednesday had a 25.7 million peak and 23.9 million average on ITV1 and ITV1+1 combined.
England’s quarter-final match against Ukraine, which aired on BBC One, saw a 20.9 million peak and 19.8 million average.
(Image: PA)
The game against Germany, which also aired on BBC One, had a 20.6 million peak and 13 million average.
Hearts were broken all over England when Italy beat the team 3-2.
Three players, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, all missed their penalties after the tense game finished 1-1 after extra time.
It came 25 years after England manager Gareth Southgate missed his penalty in the Euro 96 semi-final.
(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Sunday’s final had started so well after Luke Shaw’s goal, but the team were pegged back by Leonardo Bonnuci after the break.
The FA condemned the sickening racist abuse sent to Saka, Rashford and Sanco after the game.
Their statement said: “The FA strongly condemns all forms of discrimination and is appalled by the online racism that has been aimed at some of our England players on social media.
“We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team. We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible.”