10 Most Watched Episodes Of Modern Doctor Who
5. A Christmas Carol- 12.11 Million
Yes, that's right, the episode where a lady sings a shark to sleep is the fifth most watched episode of NuWho. The episode received a very mixed reception, with some buying in to the over the top reworking of a Charles Dickens classic, while others just couldn't enjoy an episode that featured a flying shark.
While the Christmas episodes have always been very popular, it was still a surprise to see the episode have such strong viewership. The ratings had declined significantly in Smith's first season in the role, with under 7 million people watching the final episode.
It's hard to know what made this episode so highly watched, be it the idea of A Christmas Carol being brought to life or an indication that Matt Smith did have a fanbase after all. The one thing that can be taken from these figures is that the Doctor Who Christmas special had become a strong tradition, and moving away from having an episode on Christmas Day would be madness.