The Bishop of London, Rt Rev Dame Sarah Mullally, believes streaming services are taking away the “moments of togetherness” that TV once brought to families.

Writing in the Radio Times, she highlighted that with so many choices, watching TV has become a “more solitary and insular” activity.

She wrote: “Our lives have become more and more dominated by the instant gratification available through our mobile phones and social media. Streaming sites have sought to displace traditional channels, allowing us to watch whatever we want whenever we want it. With that, the act of watching TV has become more solitary and insular. A far cry from the years many of us remember of three channels and one set per household.”

For her, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime have made it easier to watch on different devices and binge entire series, which means fewer people gather to watch shows at the same time. This has led to the end of “event” TV, where everyone would talk about the same show the next day.

Bishop Sarah urged people to prioritise shared experiences, especially at Christmas.

"This is one of the few times we can truly be present with loved ones,” she said. “Laughing, crying, and being together around the TV makes those moments all the more special.”

Bishop Sarah plans to watch Call the Midwife, The Great British Bake Off, and the King’s Christmas message, adding: "Despite changing technology, British TV’s role in bringing us together will endure.”