England's Lionesses smash TV audience record in Euro 2017 semi-final

England’s crunch Euro 2017 semi-final against Holland drew the biggest ever UK audience for a women’s football match.

A peak audience of 4 million tuned in to Channel 4, only to see the Lionesses crash out of the tournament with a 3-0 loss to the host country.

The match easily beat the previous record of a peak of 3.3 million, which was set on Sunday for England’s quarter-final against France.

Thursday night’s game drew an average audience of 3.4 million viewers as fans hoped to see the Lionesses move to within one game of becoming the first senior England side since Sir Alf Ramsey’s World Cup class of 1966 to win a major football tournament.

The match drew more than double the average audience of Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother, which aired from 9pm to 10pm. It also proved more popular than BBC1’s Panorama special on the RSPCA and ITV’s Inside the London Fire Brigade and James Martin’s French Adventure.

It even held its own against the big beasts of the weeknight schedule, soaps Emmerdale and EastEnders, which drew audiences of 4.5 to 5 million.

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Viewing of the game peaked at 9pm when England were still very much in the match, trailing by one goal. Minutes later they conceded a second. From this point viewers began to drift away with just over 1 million still watching after the Dutch went 3-0 ahead with an own goal in the dying seconds.

Channel 4 is jubilant over the ratings success of Euro 2017– the broadcaster has previously had huge viewing success with its gamble on the London 2012 Paralympic games – but will rue the missed opportunity of another record night had England made the final.

“We’re delighted so many tuned in to follow England’s magnificent effort during this campaign – who knows how many might have tuned into the final had the Lionesses made it, but sadly it wasn’t to be,” said Stephen Lyle, Channel 4’s commissioning editor, sport.

“There’s absolutely no doubt that the women’s game is compelling sport, and just as heartbreaking as the men’s game.”

The game drew a record crowd for women’s football in the Netherlands, but that is likely to be eclipsed by the home country’s final against Denmark this weekend.