2018 in British television
This is a list of events that took place in 2018 relating to television in the United Kingdom.
Events
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Top 10 most-watched television broadcasts
BARB consolidated 7-day viewing figures
The Broadcasters' Audience Research Board used this method of measurement until August 2018. Viewing figures details include +1 and HD channels. Highest rated single episode, instalment or match per channel.| Rank | Programme | Number of viewers in millions | Date | Network | Brief description |
| 1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup : Croatia vs England | 20.7 | 11 July | ITV | England lose to Croatia 2–1 in Moscow in their first semi-final of a World Cup since 1990. |
| 2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup : Sweden vs England | 17.4 | 7 July | BBC One | England win against Sweden 2–0 in Samara to proceed to their first World Cup semi-final since 1990. |
| 3 | Bodyguard | 14.3 | 23 September | BBC One | The final episode of the first series. Aikens abducts Budd and fits him inside a suicide vest. The police then are called by Budd and refuse to believe his version of events as they believe he is involved in the conspiracy due to his links to Apsted. Budd suspects MI5 is watching him and gives false information regarding the information of the kompromat. The security service then sends Longcross to retrieve it, who is then arrested by the police on site. Budd's innocence is then proven after he leads the police to his flat and Vicky discovers the kompromat and blank rounds from his firearm. Budd then discovers that Craddock is the police insider for Aikens. She then confesses to providing Aikens information regarding Montague's whereabouts which led to her assassination and chose Budd to be her PPO as his background made him the perfect fall guy. Nadia is later interviewed again and is revealed to have lied about Longcross's e-fit and is the builder of the explosive devices and led to the attack on the school of Budd's children. |
| 4 | I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here | 13.7 | 18 November | ITV | Holly Willoughby makes her debut as co-presenter alongside Declan Donnelly whilst Ant McPartlin is on a break marking the first time the series is not presented by Donnelly and McPartlin in the show's history. The launch programme receives the highest ratings for an opener in the show's 16-year history. The series includes a line-up of celebrities including actor John Barrowman, singer Fleur East, quizzer Anne Hegerty and football manager Harry Redknapp. |
| 5 | Strictly Come Dancing | 11.9 | 13 October | BBC One | The fourth live show of sixteenth series which saw Stacey Dooley and her partner Kevin Clifton go to the top of the leaderboard with a score of 33 for their Foxtrot to Hi Ho Silver Lining by Jeff Beck. |
| 6 | Britain's Got Talent | 11.2 | 3 June | ITV | The final of the twelfth series, which was won by comedian Lost Voice Guy, beating pianist Robert White and reggae singer Donchez Dacres. Performers from Tina : The Musical also performed. |
| 7 | Doctor Who | 10.5 | 14 October | BBC One | The launch of the eleventh series and the debut of the Thirteenth Doctor, the first female incarnation of the time-travelling Time Lord. The episode titled "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" saw The Doctor fall on to Sheffield following the events of "Twice Upon a Time", battle an alien known by the name of "Tzim-Sha/Tim Shaw", construct a new sonic-screwdriver and encounter bus driver Graham O'Brien, police officer Yasmin Khan, and a warehouse worker who has dyspraxia Ryan Sinclair, who later become her companions. The episode was the first to be broadcast on Sunday of the modern revival of the programme and achieved the programme its highest ratings for a premiere of a series beating the 2005 episode "Rose" and its highest consolidated ratings since The Time of the Doctor in 2013. The episode is also the highest drama-launch of the year. |
| 8 | The Great British Bake Off | 9.9 | 28 August | Channel 4 | The first episode of the ninth series breaking with tradition and focusing on biscuits. County Tyrone recreation officer, Imelda McCarron, is eliminated whilst London software project manager, Manon Lagrève, is crowned the first star baker of the series. |
| 9 | Call the Midwife | 9.6 | 11 March | BBC One | The final episode of the seventh series sees the aftermath of the funeral of Barbara and Sister Monica Joan's birthday party which is later interrupted by news of the Assassination of President Kennedy. |
| 10 | Coronation Street | 9.4 | 30 March | ITV | Eileen Grimshaw learns the truth about her husband Pat Phelan's killer ways and throws him off a pier. |