The 50th anniversary episode of Coronation Street attracted an average audience of 14 million people in Britain.
The live broadcast of the show involved 65 actors and a crew of 300 portraying the aftermath of a devastating gas explosion and tram crash.
Critics have largely hailed the hour-long special episode as a huge success.
At its climax, two characters appeared to die from their injuries.
The BBC reports there have been months of speculation about the identities of those who would be killed off in the catastrophe.
The show's golden jubilee episode was its first live edition for a decade.
The last live broadcast was screened in 2000 to mark the soap's 40th anniversary.
Created by scriptwriter Tony Warren, Coronation Street was originally commissioned for 13 episodes. The first was broadcast on 9 December, 1960.
