Over a third of people will keep an eye on the TV while tucking into their Christmas dinner this year, according to research.

A poll for RadioTimes.com looked at how much time Britons spend watching the small screen on Christmas Day.

More than a third (35%) admitted that they always or sometimes fail to turn off the telly while enjoying their roast turkey and trimmings.

Girl watching TV
Watching TV is popular on Christmas Day (Patrick Pleul/DPA)

The research also found that 15% will spend five to eight hours in front of the box, and 9% more than an eight-hour stint on December 25.

Around 35% will sit down to between three and five hours, while 34% will watch just one to three.

More than a third (40%) said that they could not live without TV on Christmas Day while wifi access (24%) and a smart phone (16%) were also deemed essentials.

Laptop smartphone
Wifi and smartphones are seen as Christmas Day essentials (Tim Goode/PA)

Half (50%) said that they thought there are more TV repeats on Christmas Day than there were in the past.

The Queen’s Christmas message appears to be more popular this year – 46% said they would not tune in for the occasion, down from 64% last year.

But only 5% named the annual address as the Christmas TV they could not miss.

Queen Elizabeth II
(John Stillwell/PA)

RadioTimes.com editor Tim Glanfield said: “Christmas is a time for family, but it’s also a time for great TV and movies and it seems nothing comes between some families and their festive viewing – not even Christmas dinner.”

Over 1,100 people were surveyed for the poll.