Series 9 UK ratings round up
December 17th, 2015
Warning! This article and its comments may contain spoilers...
The Doctor is now back in action as the TARDIS has finally reopened its doors for another jam-packed series of timey-wimey twists and turns. Feels good, doesn’t it?
While the show is more successful than its ever been, and fans of the Time Lord would argue that the whole world abandons their Saturday night plans to accompany him on his weekly adventures, unfortunately that just isn’t the case. Luckily, we’re here to let you know how many people are actually tuning in for Series 9, with our handy ratings table being updated as the drama unfolds. You’re welcome!
| Overnight | Official | |
| The Magician’s Apprentice | 4.8 million | 6.54 million |
| The Witch’s Familiar | 3.7 million | 5.71 million |
| Under the Lake | 3.7 million | 5.63 million |
| Before the Flood | 4.38 million | 6.05 million |
| The Girl Who Died | 4.85 million | 6.56 million |
| The Woman Who Lived | 4.34 million | 6.11 million |
| The Zygon Invasion | 3.87 million | 5.76 million |
| The Zygon Inversion | 4.13 million | 6.03 million |
| Sleep No More | 4.0 million | 5.61 million |
| Face the Raven | 4.42 million | 6.05 million |
| Heaven Sent | 4.51 million | 6.19 million |
| Hell Bent | 4.8 million | 6.17 million |
| . |
Keep up to date with WhovianNet’s latest Series 9 news, previews & discussions!
I know that these are only overnight figures, they do generally rise a bit when they are official but these seem awfully low. Series openers in particular usually have great figures! When an episode or Coronation Street is getting more views than Doctor Who, maybe Moffat needs to stand back and reflect a bit…
Hey Moffat wake up, if it wasn’t for Missy the show would have sucked. And this is coming from me, i did not liked Missy. not at all ,but last night her personality saved the show. The Doctor is boring, Peter interpretation is static always the same, we need a new Doctor.
At the same time, on ITV, the Rugby World Cup final was on, with England playing Wales. That’s a big deal. 10+ million viewers watched that in the UK, so of course the rating for the show was lower. Duhh!
Wait until the collated figures come in, iPlayer, etc. You will see that the show is ACTUALLY doing really well.
So shut up about it already!
I’m truly puzzled by these numbers. I think the show is driving to more interesting stories and love Peter’s interpretation of The Doctor. I wonder if fans have lost the ability to let characters and stories develop. Self-contained, simplistic stories with characters who are set in stone from the get-go don’t require much participation by viewers. It’s a sad state if that is the only kind of story/character that appeals these days.
These figures are shocking and reflect why the BBC no longer think Doctor Who is a TV event!
It is time for change but Moffatt thinks he is the best and there is nothing wrong with the series. Doctor Who was cancelled on more viewing figures in the 80’s.
@Steve
Don’t forget that the rugby world cup is on at the moment and there has been a lot of interest in that. Had the rugby been on at a different time I reckon the viewings would be higher
@Patrick All you have done is back up my comment – the BBC are losing faith in Doctor Who and it’s decreasing viewing figures… it is a slippery slope!
Is this only television figures?
I think the way viewing figures are captured/calculated is a bit outdated. I wonder if a lot of people are watching the show on other media because not everybody can sit down to watch it when it broadcasts. I personally tend to catch it on my laptop rather than on TV. But I am watching it! Even if not counted as a TV viewer!
Last night’s episode was wonderful drama.
The mindless masses would rather watch drivel, rather than something that actually means using some of those grey cells.
@KC
As parents to a toddler, we tend to always watch it later on iPlayer as we’re usually getting our daughter ready for bed, etc. But, the last couple of weeks, due to all this rating palarva, I’ve left the telly on bbc1 when the show is being aired, hoping it’ll help.
Overnight ratings in 2015 should not be taken as gospel to how popular a show is, it’s just not accurate.
The present series suffers from a number of problems. Peter Capaldi’s demeanour and age make his relationship with Clara and others too limited. He is always stern, always serious (a reminder of the original Dr Who). The stories are far less varied now: futuristic, dark-cornered End Of the World Threats. Where is the inventiveness of the historical episodes or the characterful stories of, eg Rose and other companions? Steven Moffat tried to make the show more adult sci-fi in his early days as showrunner. He is still doing it. And above all, it suffers from what are apparently budget cuts: limited staging, dark settings to disguise limited studio production, fewer extras and above all, too many bug-eyed monsters that lurk in the shadows. Too little CGI, too little visual excitement. Bring back Russell T Davies.
Missy was ar list a saving grace, but she’s come and gone.
Only a notwe & a nuvian have opinions like this.
Either way, you are wrong and literally no Doctor Who fan with any longevity or credibility agrees with you.
If the Beeb showed it some respect and put it on at a reasonable time, more people would be watching, and the kids could sit and watch. The lower viewing figures is sad, because so many people have missed out on the best series since s5.