'Box set Britain': Millions skip sleep to binge-watch TV

About 10 million Britons have skipped sleep or made themselves tired the next day because they were binge-watching TV, new research suggests.

More than half of British adults watch more than one episode of the same show back-to-back at least once a month.

Of those, a third - almost 10 million - admit they have missed sleep or become tired as a result, while a quarter say they have neglected household chores.

Media watchdog Ofcom did the research into what it called "box set Britain".

Scott Bryan, TV editor at BuzzFeed UK, thinks it's simply down to people being unable to resist temptation.

"The old days of having a TV schedule that used to dictate when the drama started and ended is long gone," he told the BBC.

"Now it's hard not to follow on that temptation, especially when the next episodes are available straight away."

Orange is the New Black was the most popular show on subscription streaming services in the UK between October and December 2016.

Lindsey Fussell, consumer group director at Ofcom, said: "Technology has revolutionised the way we watch TV. The days of waiting a week for the next episode are largely gone, with people finding it hard to resist watching multiple episodes around the house or on the move.

"But live television still has a special draw, and the power to bring the whole family together in a common experience."

Social media is another reason why Scott Bryan believes live TV will continue to draw in viewers.

"The Great British Bake Off and Twitter were perfect companions as people were using it for jokes and references," he said. "That commentary was like watching it with a mate."

Findings in the broadcasting regulator's Communications Market Report include:

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