Dr Who’s ratings exterminated in New Year’s Day flop between Daleks and Jodie Whittaker’s timelord
DOCTOR Who’s New Year’s Day special had the BBC show’s worst ratings since it was rebooted 17 years ago.
Despite Jodie Whittaker’s Time Lord clashing with the Daleks once more, only 3.4million tuned in.
In contrast, almost nine million watched her first full outing in the Tardis in 2018.
Jodie, 39 — the first woman to play the Doctor — has seen viewing figures gradually slide in the four years since she took on the role.
The latest figure is for those who watched live on the day. Final ratings, including viewers on catch-up or recordings, will be released next week.
A TV insider said: “Jodie’s legacy is leaving behind viewing figures that are among the worst in the show’s long history.
“Although far more people watch programmes on catch-up, this still doesn’t make up for the decline in viewers since 2018.
“Plus, the BBC always saw Doctor Who as the kind of show that was ‘event TV’, bringing the whole family together at the same time.
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"But that doesn’t seem to be happening.”
A BBC spokesman insisted Doctor Who is one of the most popular shows on its iPlayer and said: “Audiences increasingly value the option to choose when and where they watch it.”
Jodie will stand down from playing the Doctor later this year after appearing in a series of specials.
It is not yet known who will replace her in the Tardis, but It’s A Sin actor Omari Douglas, 27, is among the favourites.
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