Doctor Who Ratings Continue To Plummet Amid Cancelation Rumors

Doctor Who is a beloved television show that has existed in some form since 1963. While there have been some breaks, it has remained a popular part of pop culture. However, throughout the past year, there have been plenty of rumors about the show being axed, and with no third season being confirmed at this point, neither the BBC nor Disney has done much to dispel them.

Still, Doctor Who has pushed on with its second season, with Ncuti Gatwa taking on the titular role. The stakes have been extremely high for each episode. With just one remaining for this season, fans are going to want some answers, but without them, all people have to lean on are the viewing figures.

One of the big talking points surrounding the future of Doctor Who has surrounded ratings, with this season needing to perform well for another season of the show to be greenlit. Unfortunately, Deadline’s latest report about this season’s viewing figures has made for worrying news regarding the future of the science fiction series. The first four episodes averaged 3.1 million viewers, which was 800,000 down from the previous season. However, when compared to Jodie Whittaker’s final season as the Doctor, the gap is increased to two million. It’s a significant drop in interest, and while there could be a multitude of reasons for that, the figures themselves are all that bosses will care about.

If Doctor Who continues to exist, the viewing figures will have to increase, or it will become impossible for the higher-ups to justify the expense. The new version of Doctor Who has been criticized for pushing woke storylines and taking on political conversations within its episodes, which is something that has turned fans off the show. However, it’s unlikely that they are the only reasons why people aren’t viewing the series. Whether it’s changing viewing habits or Doctor Who simply not having the pull that it once did, there are multiple reasons that will likely be impacting things.

Official statements have simply pushed fans toward the fact that an official decision hasn’t been made yet, while BBC has claimed that Gatwa has not been fired. That might be a positive situation for him personally, but if the show isn’t being renewed, then it will make little difference moving forward. Doctor Who has pushed the barriers this season regarding the overall storyline, with one of the grandest efforts in the show’s history, with secrets from the start of the first season being unveiled. However, the impressive storytelling alone hasn’t made an impact on viewership, proving there is a bigger problem to deal with.

Unfortunately for Doctor Who fans, all the signs are currently pointing toward the show either being canceled or put on ice for a period while a new strategy is thought up. Whether the final episode of this season will wrap things up in a conclusive way that people can just move on from the show will remain to be seen. However, the dropping viewership is problematic for Doctor Who, and it is difficult to see a way around that currently.

Doctor Who

Release Date

December 25, 2023

Network

BBC

Directors

Douglas Camfield, David Maloney, Christopher Barry, Michael E. Briant, Barry Letts, Michael Ferguson, Richard Martin, Peter Moffatt, Pennant Roberts, Lennie Mayne, Chris Clough, Ron Jones, Paddy Russell, Paul Bernard, Michael Hayes, Timothy Combe, Morris Barry, Gerald Blake, Graeme Harper, Waris Hussein, Rodney Bennett, Mervyn Pinfield, Hugh David, John Gorrie

Writers

Russell T. Davies, Dave Gibbons, Kate Herron, Steven Moffat

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