'Emmerdale' emerged victorious over 'EastEnders' in a head-to-head battle on Tuesday night.
Both soaps aired special one-hour episodes at 7pm and, according to figures, 'Emmerdale' came out on top with almost 50% more viewers than its BBC rival.
The news has sparked industry speculation that the BBC may axe the programme next year, according to The Daily Mirror.
An average of 9 million viewers, a 40% share of the available audience, tuned to see Charity Dingle's exit on ITV, while just 6.3 million (28%) opted for the latest from Albert Square.
The figures mark 'EastEnders' second lowest ratings ever in its 20-year history; the lowest being 6.2 million during another head-to-head in September of last year.
