The BBC scored a spectacular hit with Billy Elliot on New Year's Day, with the in-house production becoming the most popular film on TV during the Christmas period across all channels.

The BBC Films and Working Title Films collaboration recorded 12.2 million viewers, pushing the BBC's The Mummy, which attracted 10.7 million viewers on Christmas Eve, into second place.

The BBC spent only £1m on the story of a working class boy who wants to be a ballet dancer, including around £500,000 in equity investment in additional to the broadcasters typical payment of around £450,000 for UK TV rights.