TV ratings: I’m a Celebrity winner announcement beats Married At First Sight

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I’m a Celebrity winner announcement beats Married At First Sight in the ratings despite Nine’s promotional blitz for the explosive Grand Reunion

By Alisha Buaya For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

The winner announcement on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! outperformed the hotly anticipated Married At First Sight Grand Reunion in the ratings.

Sunday night saw Network 10 and Channel Nine go head to head in prime time with their flagship reality shows.

But despite Nine’s promotional blitz for MAFS, Abbie Chatfield’s crowning moment as Queen of the Jungle won overall with a metro audience of 896,000.

Success! The winner announcement on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! outperformed the anticipated Married At First Sight Grand Reunion in the ratings. Pictured: Abbie Chatfield

I’m a Celebrity’s season finale saw an average of 784,000 viewers tune in across the five major cities.

But this number swelled considerably by the end of the episode as viewers switched channels to find out the winner.

The closing moments of I’m a Celebrity narrowly beat the MAFS reunion dinner party, which had an average metro audience of 866,000.

Numbers game: I'm a Celebrity's finale episode overall saw about 784,000 viewers tune in across the five major cities - but this number swelled to 896,000 as viewers switched channels to find out the winner, which ended up being Abbie (left, with Jess Eva and Grant Denyer)

Numbers game: I’m a Celebrity’s finale episode overall saw about 784,000 viewers tune in across the five major cities – but this number swelled to 896,000 as viewers switched channels to find out the winner, which ended up being Abbie (left, with Jess Eva and Grant Denyer)

For many viewers, the highlight of the MAFS Grand Reunion was seeing arch-villain Nasser Sultan walk out after being confronted over his ‘trolling’ on Instagram. 

Channel 10 boss Beverley McGarvey said I’m a Celebrity has ‘cemented itself as the number-one summer entertainment television event’.

She added: ‘It has been wonderful to see how viewers reacted and engaged with our celebrities. 

Tempers flare: Channel Nine's explosive dinner party lost by a narrow margin with 866,000 viewers tuning in to see former bride 'Cyclone' Cyrell threw a glass of wine at Jessika Power

Tempers flare: The closing moments of I’m a Celebrity narrowly beat the MAFS reunion dinner party, which had an average metro audience of 866,000. Pictured: MAFS bride Cyrell Paule

Drama king! For many viewers, the highlight of the MAFS Grand Reunion was seeing arch-villain Nasser Sultan (pictured) walk out after being confronted over his 'trolling' on Instagram

Drama king! For many viewers, the highlight of the MAFS Grand Reunion was seeing arch-villain Nasser Sultan (pictured) walk out after being confronted over his ‘trolling’ on Instagram

‘It provided much needed laughter, warmth and family fun in these tougher times. It was escapism at its best.’

With I’m a Celebrity finished for the year, Channel 10 will fill its time slot with The Amazing Race Australia, hosted by Beau Ryan.

The Amazing Race will premiere on Monday, February 1, at 7.30pm on Channel 10  

Returning: With I'm a Celebrity finished for the year, Channel 10 will fill its time slot with The Amazing Race Australia, hosted by former NRL star Beau Ryan (pictured)

Returning: With I’m a Celebrity finished for the year, Channel 10 will fill its time slot with The Amazing Race Australia, hosted by former NRL star Beau Ryan (pictured)