The ratings for this edition are unavailable. Not only was it shown in a late 10pm timeslot, but it was scheduled directly opposite BBC1's Christmas film night broadcast of
Baby Boom (1987), which attracted 12.5 million viewers and was 22nd in the charts.
French Fields didn't make the national Top 50, or the ITV-only Top 30. The 30th most-watched programme on the channel that week was
The Krypton Factor Special (1990) with 7.8 million viewers.