TV experts predict UK viewing figures for the Queen's funeral could ECLIPSE 32 million who watched Westminster Abbey service for Diana
- An estimated 4.1 billion people will watch the funeral - half the world population
- The figure would eclipse the 32 million who watched Diana's funeral in 1997
- The BBC and ITV will both provide rolling coverage of the funeral tomorrow
By MICHAEL POWELL FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY
PUBLISHED: 09:23 AEST, 18 September 2022 | UPDATED: 10:52 AEST, 18 September 2022
Television experts predict UK that viewing figures for tomorrow’s funeral may eclipse the 32 million who watched the Westminster Abbey service for Diana, Princess of Wales.
Globally, 4.1 billion people – more than half the planet’s population – are expected to tune in.
Huw Edwards will helm the BBC’s coverage from 8am until 5pm with Fergal Keane in London, while Kirsty Young and David Dimbleby will be in Windsor, as part of a team of 30 providing commentary across BBC TV and radio.
ITV’s coverage will start at 9.30am and will be hosted by Tom Bradby and Julie Etchingham. News anchor Mary Nightingale will lead the coverage from Westminster Abbey.
On Sky News, Anna Botting and Dermot Murnaghan will host from 9am, following an early morning broadcast by Kay Burley.
(File Photo) Around 32 million watched the Westminster Abbey service for Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997
Huw Edwards, who announced the Queen's death on BBC News, will lead the BBC's coverage of the funeral tomorrow
The first key moment will be at 10.35am, with the Queen’s coffin carried from Westminster Hall and placed on to the State Gun Carriage to Westminster Abbey.
The funeral service will begin at 11am and end at 11.55am, when the Last Post will signal a nationwide two-minute silence. From 12.15pm to 1pm, there will be a procession from Westminster Abbey to Hyde Park Corner. Another key moment will be the procession in Windsor from 3.10pm, and the Committal Service from 4pm.
Apart from the private burial in Windsor at 7.30pm, camera crews will capture almost every moment, which will be the result of more than a decade of planning involving senior Palace staff and broadcasting executives. Camera angles and close-ups have been worked out in advance and carefully scripted.
Footage will be pooled to TV channels worldwide.
Sky’s Anna Botting, 54, said: ‘It feels totally daunting because so many people have put so many hours of preparation into this, so you don’t want to let them down by getting something wrong. But also it is an emotional occasion.’
Where to watch on big screens across the UK
Live coverage is being shown on big screens across the country and for those in London wanting to be near the procession, four giant screens have been set up in Hyde Park (access via the northern side of the park between Marble Arch and Marlborough Gate). Vue cinemas will also be showing live footage. There will be big screens in the following locations:
- Bedford (Corn Exchange)
- Birmingham (Centenary Square)
- Bracknell (Bond Square)
- Bradford (the Cathedral)
- Coventry (University Square)
- Exeter (Northernhay Gardens and Exeter City Football Club)
- Hull (City Hall)
- Ipswich (Cornhill)
- Leeds (Millennium Square)
- Lichfield (the Cathedral)
- Manchester (the Cathedral)
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Old Eldon Square)
- Scarborough (Grand Hall of the Spa)
- Sheffield (the Cathedral)
- Solihull (Core Theatre)
- Stoke-on-Trent (Staffordshire University, The Catalyst Hall)
- Stratford-upon-Avon (Royal Shakespeare Theatre)
- Telford (St Georges Sports and Social Club)
- Reading (Forbury Gardens)
- Truro (the Cathedral)
- Walsall (St Matthew’s Church)
- West Bromwich (Dartmouth Park bandstand)
- Wolverhampton (Queen Square)