10 Most Watched Episodes Of Modern Doctor Who

The Doctor Who ratings are falling, so revisit happier times with a list of the most watched NuWho.

Doctor Who The Day Of The Doctor
BBC Studios

It's been a rocky road for Doctor Who lately, with viewers switching off the current series in their millions. The warning signs were actually there in the latter stages of Series 10, with the lowest individual show ratings since the show was relaunched in 2005.

So as BBC executives try to figure out what has gone wrong, we thought it was a nice time to look back at happier times and examine the most watched episodes in modern Doctor Who. The episode is far removed from a best of list, with many Christmas episodes, specials and series openers featuring on the list.

There is only one Doctor Who actor who isn't on the list, and it's probably not the actor you were expecting- that's right, a Jodie Whittaker episode will feature! Mister Tennant and Smith have the most entries with five and four episodes on the list, but there are definitely quite a few surprises.

So put down your effigies of Chris Chibnall and reflect on better days with our list of the episodes the UK just couldn't keep away from.

10. The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe- 10.77 Million

Doctor Who The Day Of The Doctor
BBC

The most surprising entry on this list, this Christmas episode from 2011 dished out the audience's second serve of Turkey for the day. Though an incredibly mediocre and forgettable episode, the high ratings was evidence that despite a rocky beginning to the Moffat era, the show about a mysterious alien who acts and looks much younger than he is still had some legs.

The plot in this episode is largely incomprehensible, although there is something to do with talking trees and a fighter pilot who needs landing lights to be saved. There is a fun start to the episode with Matt Smith's Doctor surviving a near death experience thanks to a fantastical suit, but it's all quickly downhill from there.

The only positive to say about the episode is that unlike future Moffat Christmas episodes, this was quite suitable for children, even if like the adults, they had little idea what was going on.

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While he likes to know himself as the 'thunder from down under', Luke is actually just a big dork who loves all things sport, film, James Bond, Doctor Who and Karaoke. With all the suave and sophistication of any Aussie half way through a slab, Luke will critique every minute detail of films and shows from all eras- unless it's 1990's Simpsons episodes, because they're just perfect