Howling:Is doctor Who's popularity going

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I was just wondering if Doctor Who is entering into one of those stages where it isn't exactly the hottest thing on the air. Now while we all know that doctor who will always be a big popular worldwide thing, even in the nineties where there was only paul mgann one shot turn as the doctor, it was still very popular. I am living proof of that as I grew up when there was no doctor who and I love it as much as any person who did. Still obviously there are periods where the show isn't quite so mainstream . I was wondering if we are entering into that stage. Sadly having looked at what the viewing figures have been for the last few episodes they haven't been that good. Really after Victory of the Daleks this show hasn't really done well certainly not compared to the shows high points. What do you guys think do you think this is say like Patrick Troughtons era when after having been on the air a couple of years it just wasn't pulling people in the same way or do you think this is just a bit of a glitch due to hot weather and the world cup. I really hope the season finale gets big viewing figures, personally I dont think it will get Journey's end type viewing figures but I think it will still get reasonably high ones as there has at least still been alot of hype about this series. Winehousefan, 19:30, June 16, 2010, [UTC]&nbsp

• Hmm, hard to say. I think all the time there are fluxuations on tv shows. I don't think they'd cancel it anytime soon though. Of course the world cup may be having an impact, people being away from homes and such, and the good weather meaning people miss it when it initially airs (I know that I've missed more than seen at the time of airing this season). I wouldn't say the popularity is going though, especially with the amount of sales etc they get from merchandise etc. I can't even get my hands on one of the tenth's sonic screwdrivers :( --The Thirteenth Doctor 18:36, June 18, 2010 (UTC)

To be fair Doctor who merchandise has always been very popular I remeber seeing the remote controlled Dalek as one of the most bought items when it first came out and that was like in the year 1999, or 2000 something like that before RTD anyway. Still though your right it is kinda more crazy now in terms of merchandise and other things like the doctor who prom and live tour which have both been sellouts so I guess thats good. Your right they wont be cancelling it any time soon. To be honest the only reason it was cancelled before was, Michael Grade is an unimaginative petty jealous asshole who has fucked up everything he has ever made. Seriously this guy decided what went in the millenium dome, so of course he is going to cancel something profitable. Later it was put against coronation street the death slot for any show. Doctor who may not be as popular in the UK as Eastenders or other soaps but it makes more worldwide with all that stuff so I don't think they would want to get rid of all that dough without a fight. Still though alot of shows do kinda go down hill [ratings wise] at this point look at buffy angel Xena alot of these shows usually begin to become less mainstream at around season five six, if they last that long. Still Doctor who's format dosen't mean it has to end like those shows so the BBC will probably stick with it until it gets big [ratings wise] again, like they did all the time before that petty stupid small minded living off his uncle Michael Grade came along. Winehousefan, 20:00, June 18, 2010, [utc]

I haven't looked at the figures for Doctor Who but for other shows the viewing figures sag in the middle to late part of the season possibly because the new season hype is over and then they shoot back up during the finale. The manner this happens in is different for every show (and even every season) but it seems to be a general pattern for a lot of shows, particularly ones with episodes that stray from the main story arc. V00D00M0NKY 19:05, June 18, 2010 (UTC)

First three episodes, my day revolved around being in front of the television for it to come on. Fourth episode, and I was over-running at an internet cafe and discovered that BBC iPlayer was playing Time of Angels live, and now that I know I can watch the episodes online, catching it on telly is no longer a priority for me. So from my experience, the good quality iPlayer service (I have found it questionable in the past) may affect the television ratings, if that is all they count. Torchwood Five 87.80.103.44 20:36, June 18, 2010 (UTC)

Well, I don't think Winehousefan is being awfully fair here. All shows have been pretty well depressed during the time this series has been broadcasting. And this show is, by far, the #1 show on iPlayer. You also have some anomalies this year that didn't exist previously, such as the availability of first-run episodes on the BBC HD, when HD and One weren't synchronized. So the overnights do look depressed compared to previous years, but the time-shift final numbers are simply extraordinary. There's no regular drama series on British TV that comes close to the time-shift "bump" that DW is getting this series; when all's said and done, most episodes have gotten about 7.5 million viewers, which is certainly on a par with what most regular series episodes have gotten in the past. Just about every week, it's still the number one non-soap scripted drama on British television, just as it was in the Tennant era. The numbers are a little softer than series 4, but consider this sports analogy: is winning by 10-2 actually better than winning by 6-1? You're still winning handily. The best comparison we can make is between series 2 and this one, due to the equal presence of the World Cup. And series 2 was considerably softer than others. It's the only year where no episode was in the annual top 10, due to the World Cup. Will that happen again this year? Possibly, but since The End of Time is actually this year, there's simply the chance that no Moffat episode of DW will be in the year-end top 10. CzechOut ☎ | ✍ 20:51, June 18, 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the knowledge I didn't know it was still the numer 1 show on I player. Thats good because I think it would be a shame if it went down hill ratings wise now. Matt smith has been a really excellent doctor and the quality of stories has been really great too. As you said it is a bit softer than series 4 but then again series 4 had like among the greatest viewing figures for a science fiction show so thats kinda high expectations. I am glad to hear that about series 2 being a bit softer I always thought that was supposed to be a huge series [ it was obviously but i didn't know no episode made it into the top ten]I feel less worried now that I know the other world cup series did bassically the same as this. Winehousefan, 00:15, June 19, 2010 [UTC]