According to Lizo Mzimba of the BBC, Doctor Who’s Ep 1 catch-up figures are mostly in. It’s now been watched by TV audience of 6.70 million, narrowly beating Dracula’s 6.63 million. Is this a good figure or not? Well, it depends on your point on view, and particularly what kind of show you think Doctor Who should be.

Some will say it’s good that when catch-up is included Doctor Who hasn’t continued dropping below 2018 figures…

Others will say 2018 was a chance to bring in new viewers with a new female Doctor, something that in publicity terms is one of the biggest boosts the show’s ever had. And that is disappointing that it appears it hasn’t managed to retain at least some of those additional viewers.

We won’t get the final 7 day figures till Monday, but it looks like Spyfall Part 1 will rank 10th out of the 12 Jodie Whittaker episodes (that have catch up figures available) so far. So towards the bottom end, but not right at the bottom as it was on overnights.

With the show now possibly back at the levels of Peter Capaldi’s 2nd/3rd series. His season opener in 2015 The Magician’s Apprentice had an equivalent figure of 6.54m, 2017’s The Pilot had 6.68m.

Whether you think this is good/bad depends. The recent Gavin & Stacey and the first half of Jodie Whittaker’s 2018 series showed that even against background of changing viewing habits we’ll still tune in for appointment to view shows and that that’s still possible for Doctor Who.

Many will think Doctor Who should still be one those shows. Others will be happy that it’s a solidly performing show with a core, loyal audience.

It’s still early days this series, viewing figures could climb dramatically, or the opposite, or stay around the same. If they rise, everyone will be happy. If they stay the same, reaction will be mixed for the reasons above.

If they fall over the series, there could be concern in some quarters, especially from those who believe Doctor Who should be more than just another BBC show The picture will become clearer when we get the full 7-day figures, as and as this series plays out.

Doctor Who's Ep 1 catch-up figures are mostly in. It's now been watched by TV audience of 6.70 million, narrowly beating Dracula's 6.63 million. Is this a good figure or not? Well, it depends on your point on view, and particularly what kind of show you think Doctor Who should be https://t.co/jJX3u2GCZv

— lizo mzimba (@lizo_mzimba) January 9, 2020