“Doctor Who” Scores Big UK Ratings
BBC One’s “Doctor Who” returned last night to huge audiences, the series opener featuring Jodie Whittaker’s first outing in the role of The Doctor garnered 8.2 million viewers overnight and a 40.1% audience share – peaking at 9 million viewers at one point.
That’s better than the first episodes of the two previous incarnations of the character – Peter Capaldi’s was 6.8 million, Matt Smith’s was 8 million. This episode marked the best numbers for a non-‘special’ episode of ‘Who’ since David Tennant’s last regular episode – the fourth season finale “Journey’s End” a decade ago.
That’s also better than “Bodyguard,” the public broadcaster’s best new drama launch for a decade earlier this year which had an overnight audience of 6.8 million.
Reviews were a mixed bag – Whittaker, the companions and the visuals praised but the overall episode itself garnered less enthusiastic reaction with the writing criticised. Still, all seemed keen to see more.
Trailers for both the second episode and one showcasing the guest stars set to appear across the rest of the season have arrived. They confirm Chris Noth, Alan Cumming, Mark Addy, Josh Bowman, Phyllis Logan, Lee Mack, Art Malik, Susan Lynch and Siobhan Finneran will all guest star in the adventures screening this Fall.