10 Simple Fixes For Doctor Who's Future

There was some disappointment when Season 1 failed to replicate the viewing numbers of the 60th anniversary specials and The Church on Ruby Road.

The average seven-day viewing figure for the 2023 specials was over seven million people, while the average for Season 1 was just under four million. That's a big drop, but there are a number of factors behind it.

Firstly, David Tennant and Catherine Tate were always going to draw in the big crowds, and regeneration episodes – plus the first episode of a new Doctor – are always huge events. Also, people seem to forget that Doctor Who has broadly had a core audience of around four million people for the past nine years, and last we checked, the sky is yet to fall.

Crucially however, the time of year also plays a big part in the ratings game. When it's colder, wetter, and generally more miserable, people are more inclined to stay at home on a Saturday night and tune in to Doctor Who. This was reflected in the fact that 73 Yards was the highest-rated episode of the season, during a period of heavy rainfall and travel disruption in the UK.

There are already whispers that Season 2 will start airing in March, which would be a wise move. Future seasons should follow suit and also air during a colder, darker month, whether that's at the start of the year, or towards the end. This wouldn't automatically guarantee monstrous ratings, but it would definitely get more casual eyeballs on the show.