The Giggle - Ratings Update

Tuesday, 19 December 2023 - Reported by Marcus
The Giggle: Picture Shows: Shirley (Ruth Madeley) and Neil Patrick Harris (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap))

Doctor Who: The Giggle had an official 7-day rating of 6.85 million viewers according to the research board BARB.

The official rating includes those who recorded the programme and watched it within a week.

The rating made the episode the 10th most-watched programme on British television for the week. All three of the 60th Anniversary specials appeared in the Top Ten for the week.

The top-rated show was the Saturday broadcast of Strictly Come Dancing with the Sunday results show taking second position. 

I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here occupied positions 3-9 in the top ten. 

The Appreciation Index, a measure of how much the audience enjoyed the episode, was 85.





FILTER: - Ratings - fourteenth Doctor

Wild Blue Yonder - 7 Day Rating

Wednesday, 13 December 2023 - Reported by Marcus
Wild Blue Yonder: The Doctor (David Tennant) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon))

Doctor Who: Wild Blue Yonder has a 7-day official rating of 7.14 million viewers according to the research board BARB.

The official rating includes those who recorded the programme and watched it within a week.

The rating made the episode the 9th most-watched programme on British television for the week, 

The top-rated show was the Saturday broadcast of Strictly Come Dancing, however unlike last week Doctor Who had more viewers than the Sunday results show, possibly because there was no eviction this week.  

I'm a Celebrity occupied positions 2-8 in the top ten. 

The Appreciation Index, a measure of how much the audience enjoyed the episode, was 83.

The final episode or the Fourteenth Doctor trilogy, The Giggle, had an overnight rating of 4.62 million. Its Appreciation Index was 85. 





FILTER: - Ratings - fourteenth Doctor

The Giggle - Reviews

Sunday, 10 December 2023 - Reported by Marcus

The Giggle:  (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap))Reaction to the final Doctor Who special starring David Tennant as Doctor Number 14, The Giggle, is overwhelmingly positive with many praising the episode that saw the return of the Toymaker and the introduction of new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa.

The Evening Standard described the episode as one of the best ever

Social media satire, a killing spree to the Spice Girls and a Doctor literally coming apart at the seams... This was genuinely brilliant and thrillingly unpredictable TV

For the I it was a return to form for the series under Russel T Davies's leadership with Ncuti Gatwa showing the role of the Doctor is in safe hands

It has been a long time since Doctor Who has felt this exciting, this funny, this rich, this camp, this smart, this scary, this, well, sublime.  Ncuti Gatwa’s charismatic new Doctor, who made his debut tonight, suggests the future is bright for the sci-fi series.

Collider also paid tribute to the returning showrunner

The Giggle, is Davies at his best. This episode is both terrifying and hilarious. It's heart-pounding and emotional to watch the Doctor face his oldest adversary while he fights to protect the people of Earth that he can't help but love despite never being able to say the words

For The Telegraph the episode was a magical trip across the Whoniverse. 

This was always going to be a moving finale. It’s marvellous to have Tennant back – and we may see him again. But, as seen in that prolonged glimpse of Gatwa’s new Doctor, more exciting times really do seem to be afoot. Roll on Christmas Day.

For the Guardian, one standout performance was that of Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker, a character returning to the series after 57 years.

It was no surprise, though, that Neil Patrick Harris was a scene-stealing romp, revelling in silly accents, closeup card magic and imaginative cruelty.

Den of Geek lamented the departure of the Fourteenth Doctor, paying tribute to returning actor David Tennant.

The bursts of fury, the moments of melancholia, the hugging, the brainy specs… If this really is the last time Tennant ever dons the skinny suit, these three specials might be the most triumphant final appearance of any Doctor to date. 

And Games Radar paid tribute to Catherine Tate, returning as Donna Noble

Donna has also aged, but she's only grown warmer, wiser, and more determined. A scene where she faces off against one of the Toymaker's traps is laugh out loud funny as she unflappably deals with a monster in a wonderfully straightforward way.

Have your say on the episode of the Doctor Who News Facebook page

Doctor Who returns for a Christmas Day special and a new series in 2024





FILTER: - reviews - fourteenth doctor

The Giggle

Friday, 8 December 2023 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who continues this Saturday with the third and final story in the series of specials made to mark Doctor Who's sixtieth anniversary.


The Giggle can be seen on BBC One in the United Kingdom at 6.30 pm. It will be released on Disney+ and the BBC iPlayer at the same time.

The giggle of a mysterious puppet is driving the human race insane. When the Doctor discovers the return of the terrifying Toymaker, he faces a fight he can never win.

The Giggle stars David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. It is written by Russell T Davies and directed by Chanya Button for Bad Wolf Productions and BBC Studios.

 

The Giggle: Picture Shows: Neil Patrick Harris, The Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap))The Giggle: Picture Shows: Neil Patrick Harris and The Doctor (David Tennant) (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap)) The Giggle: The Doctor (DAVID TENNANT), Donna Noble (CATHERINE TATE) (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap)) The Giggle: Picture Shows: Shirley (Ruth Madeley) and Neil Patrick Harris (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap)) The Giggle: Picture Shows: Shirley (Ruth Madeley) (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap)) The Giggle: Picture Shows: Neil Patrick Harris (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap)) The Giggle: Picture Shows: Charles Banerjee (Charlie De Melo) (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap)) The Giggle: Picture Shows: Neil Patrick Harris (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap)) The Giggle: Picture Shows: Colonel Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient) (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap)) The Giggle: Picture Shows: John Logie Baird (John Mackay) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon)) The Giggle: Picture Shows: Colonel Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon)) The Giggle: Picture Shows: Kate Lethbridge Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon)) The Giggle: The Toy Maker (NEIL PATRICK HARRIS) (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap)) The Giggle:  (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap)) 

 

Dancing With The Toymaker... | PREVIEW  The Doctor and Donna are back on Earth - but what's happened to the human race? 😨





FILTER: - Fourteenth Doctor - David Tennant

Ratings Update

Tuesday, 5 December 2023 - Reported by Marcus
The Star Beast: The Wrath (Credit: BBC Studios ())

The first special starring David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor, The Star Beast, had an official 7-day rating of 7.61 million viewers in the UK.

The rating is the highest figure for Doctor Who since The Tsuranga Conundrum in 2018.

Doctor Who was the 10th most-watched programme on British Television for the week, behind seven episodes of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and two of Strictly Come Dancing.

The official rating includes those who recorded the programme and watched it within a week.

Globally the episode is the 61st watched movie on Disney+. It has been most successful in Australia, New Zealand and Turkey.

The Appreciation Index, a measure of how much the audience enjoyed the episode, was 84.

The second episode, Wild Blue Yonder, had an overnight rating of 4.83 million, third for Saturday behind the dancing and grub-eating reality shows. 7-day figures will be released next week. Its Appreciation Index was 83. 





FILTER: - Ratings - fourteenth Doctor

Wild Blue Yonder

Thursday, 30 November 2023 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who continues this Saturday with the second in the series of three specials made to mark Doctor Who's sixtieth anniversary.


Wild Blue Yonder can be seen on BBC One in the United Kingdom at 6.30 pm. It will be released on Disney+ and the BBC iPlayer at the same time.

The Tardis takes the Doctor and Donna to the furthest edge of adventure. To escape, they must face the most desperate fight of their lives, with the fate of the universe at stake.

Wild Blue Yonder stars David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. It is written by Russell T Davies and directed by Tom Kingsley for Bad Wolf Productions and BBC Studios.

 

Wild Blue Yonder: The Doctor (DAVID TENNANT) (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap))Wild Blue Yonder: Donna Noble (CATHERINE TATE) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon)) Wild Blue Yonder: The Doctor (DAVID TENNANT) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon)) Wild Blue Yonder: The Doctor (DAVID TENNANT), Donna Noble (CATHERINE TATE) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon)) Wild Blue Yonder: The Doctor (DAVID TENNANT) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon)) Wild Blue Yonder: The Doctor (DAVID TENNANT), (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon)) Wild Blue Yonder: The Doctor (DAVID TENNANT), Donna Noble (CATHERINE TATE) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon)) Wild Blue Yonder: The Doctor (DAVID TENNANT), Donna Noble (CATHERINE TATE) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon)) Wild Blue Yonder: The Doctor (DAVID TENNANT) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon)) Wild Blue Yonder: The Doctor (DAVID TENNANT), Donna Noble (CATHERINE TATE) (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap)) Wild Blue Yonder: The Doctor (David Tennant) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon)) Wild Blue Yonder: Kudzai (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap)) Wild Blue Yonder: Sophie (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap)) Wild Blue Yonder: Phil Colinson, The Doctor (DAVID TENNANT), Donna Noble (CATHERINE TATE) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon)) Wild Blue Yonder: The Doctor (DAVID TENNANT) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon))

 

Where are the Doctor and Donna?  Where has the TARDIS dropped the Doctor and Donna this time?... ✨ Watch a preview from the upcoming 60th anniversary special 'WILD BLUE YONDER'!





FILTER: - Broadcast - Fourteenth Doctor - Specials

The Star Beast: Initial Audience Reaction

Tuesday, 28 November 2023 - Reported by Marcus
The Star Beast:  (Credit: BBC Studios (Alistair Heap))

Doctor Who: The Star Beast had an overnight audience figure of  5.08  million viewers in the UK. 

Doctor Who was the second most-watched television programme on Saturday night behind Strictly Come Dancing which had 7.67 million watching. ITV had 4.83 million watching the reality programme I'm a Celebrity Get Me out of Here

The figure shows a large increase over the previous season of Doctor Who with The Power of the Doctor having an overnight figure of 3.710 million. 

The figure is an estimate of the number of people who watched the programme on the day of transmission.  It will be updated next week to include those who watch the programme on catch-up services. 

The Appreciation Index for the episode, a measure of how much the audience enjoyed the programme, was 84, the highest score since World Enough And Time in 2017.

The new episode was available globally on Disney+ where it is currently classed as the 3rd most-watched film worldwide. It is currently in first position in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Turkey. 

 

 





FILTER: - raings - specials - Fourteenth Doctor

Doctor Who in Children in Need

Monday, 13 November 2023 - Reported by Marcus
BBC Children In Need 2023 (Credit: Bad Wolf/BBC Studios)

Doctor Who is set to blast this year’s BBC Children in Need broadcast into outer space with an exclusive scene.

Ahead of the three specials for the 60th anniversary, the brand new exclusive scene will sees David Tennant star as the Fourteenth Doctor who shares an encounter with a mysterious new character, played by actor and comedian Mawaan Rizwan. It is then that the Doctor uncovers an age-old mystery involving one of his oldest foes…

Written by Doctor Who Showrunner Russell T Davies, this other-worldly special is made specifically for BBC Children in Need, just before viewers hop back into the TARDIS for a brand new set of adventures for three special episodes set to coincide with the show’s 60th anniversary this November.

BBC Children In Need 2023 (Credit: Bad Wolf/BBC Studios)

BBC Children in Need viewers will also get a glimpse at the creation of the scene, as newly announced companion series Doctor Who: Unleashed will also feature a special treat as part of the broadcast with an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip.

David Tennant said: 

Every year that I was on Doctor Who we did something for BBC Children in Need, so it only feels right to be doing something this year. Children in Need is a national tradition, it’s certainly a BBC tradition and Doctor Who is part of that. I’m so glad we’re able to give Children in Need viewers this little extra treat.

Mawaan Rizwan said

It was such an unbelievable joy to work with my Whoniverse idols David Tennant and Russell T Davies. My inner child was losing his mind on set.

Russell T Davies, Showrunner says

Doctor Who has a fine tradition of supporting BBC Children in Need, and I hope that fans and new viewers alike will be able to watch, enjoy, and contribute to this wonderful cause.

Tune in to BBC Children in Need at 7 pm on Friday 17th November to see the Fourteenth Doctor in his first adventure on BBC One and iPlayer.

Both the exclusive scene, and an extended look behind the making of it, will also be found in the Whoniverse on iPlayer.





FILTER: - Children in Need - Fourteenth Doctor

60th Anniversary Specials Available to Pre-order

Thursday, 26 October 2023 - Reported by Marcus
60th Anniversary Specials  (Credit: BBC)

Doctor Who fans will be able to add the 60th-anniversary specials to their home entertainment collection from December on Steelbook, DVD and Blu-ray.

Following the Fourteenth Doctor’s TV specials to celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary, all three episodes will be available for Doctor Who fans to add to their home entertainment collection in December 2023.

The three-disc release, which includes exclusive additional content, will be available for fans to own on Steelbook, Blu-ray and DVD from 11th December with pre-orders available today. 

As well as David Tennant starring as the Fourteenth Doctor and companion Catherine Tate returning as fan-favourite Donna Noble, other guest stars include Neil Patrick Harris, Yasmin Finney, Miriam Margolyes, Jemma Redgrave and many more.

The release will feature all three-anniversary special episodes: The Star Beast, Wild Blue Yonder and The Giggle.

Additional content (Exclusive to the 60th Anniversary specials release)

  • Rachel Talalay's Scene Breakdown
  • Chanya Button's Scene Breakdown 
  • Tom Kingsley's Scene Breakdown

Special Features:

  • The Star Beast Behind The Scenes 
  • The Fourteenth Doctor Reveal 
  • Wild Blue Yonder Behind The Scenes The Giggle Behind The Scenes The Giggle In-vision Commentary 
  • The Star Beast In-vision Commentary 
  • David and Catherine's Flashbacks 
  • Yasmin Finney Introduces Rose Noble 
  • Designing the Fourteenth Doctor 
  • Set Tour with Yasmin Finney 
  • The Star Beast - Behind The Scenes Trailer 
  • Wild Blue Yonder - Behind The Scenes Trailer 
  • The Giggle - Behind The Scenes Trailer
  • The Cast Introduce the Villains in ‘Wild Blue Yonder'
  • Behind The Scenes Fun with David and Catherine
  • Video Diary with David Tennant's Stand-in 
  • TARDIS Set Tour with David Tennant and Phil Sims
  • Ruth Madeley Introduces Shirley Bingham 
  • Neil Patrick Harris Introduces the Toymaker 
  • Becoming the Toymaker 
  • 60th Specials Recap with David Tennant

Pre Order here





FILTER: - Specials - Fourteenth Doctor - Blu-ray/DVD

Doctor Who Returns 25th November

Wednesday, 25 October 2023 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials (Credit: BBC Studios)

Doctor Who will return to TV screens Worldwide on the 25th of November 2023.

The series will air in the UK on BBC One where it will be at the prime spot launching Saturday's evening entertainment just as it did in November 1963, 60 years ago.

With David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate reprising her role as Donna Noble the popular duo will make their spectacular return to mark the shows 60th anniversary with three special episodes running each Saturday.

Get set for three epic adventures starting with The Star Beast (25th November) where the Doctor and Donna will come face to face after all these years but just how, and why, is about to be revealed. Followed by Wild Blue Yonder (2nd December) and The Giggle (9th December) viewers are about to go on an otherworldly adventure through space and time.

Joining David Tennant and Catherine Tate is a stellar cast including, Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble, Miriam Margolyes as the voice of the Meep, Jacqueline King as Sylvia Noble, Karl Collins as Shaun Temple, Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne-Bingham, Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart and Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker, set to cause all kinds of mayhem.

All before Ncuti Gatwa gets the keys to the TARDIS over the festive season.

Viewers outside of the UK will be able to accesss the episodes on Disney+

The first episode of Doctor Who: Unleashed will follow The Star Beast on Saturday 25th November. After every new episode of Doctor Who, viewers can switch over to BBC Three or BBC iPlayer to watch the access all areas show that gives viewers an unmissable insight into the creation of Doctor Who.

 





FILTER: - Production - Fourteenth Doctor