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Post by sallywebster on Mar 27, 2005 16:53:44 GMT
Doctor Who is Saturday night hit
The new Doctor Who is played by Christopher Eccleston
Doctor Who's long-awaited return was a ratings success for the BBC, attracting up to 10.5 million viewers on Saturday.
The opening episode of the first full series since 1989 saw the Time Lord - played by Christopher Eccleston - meet his assistant Rose (Billie Piper).
Written by Russell T Davies, it is the first of 13 new episodes of the drama, which was first screened in 1963.
"We're pleased so many people sat down as a family to watch the return of the Doctor," a BBC spokesperson said.
Unofficial overnight figures show the programme got an average of 9.9 million viewers - 43.2% of all viewers - with a peak of 10.5 million viewers, a 44.3% share of the audience.
Warm reviews
After saving Rose's life the Doctor blew up the department store in spectacular fashion - it was a pretty good beginning
Sylvester McCoy
Sylvester McCoy's review
The series has been warmly reviewed, with past Doctor Who Sylvester McCoy telling the BBC News website he was "captivated" by the partnership between Eccleston and Piper.
Doctor Who's comeback helped ramp up the usual Saturday ratings battle between BBC One and ITV1.
The Time Lord's comeback was pitted against Ant And Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway on ITV1, featuring England captain David Beckham as a special guest. It attracted 7.2m viewers, peaking at 8.5m.
An ITV spokesman said: "The audience for Ant and Dec was up on the show last Easter Saturday, which got 7.1 million viewers, so we have no complaints."
Graham Norton's new ballroom dancing show, Strictly Dance Fever, went toe-to-toe with ITV1's Stars In Their Eyes Live Final - both shows appearing twice in the evening.
Sound fault
The early edition of Strictly Dance Fever attracted an average of 4.9 million people, peaking at 6.3 million, while Stars In Their Eyes, hosted by Cat Deeley, pulled in 5 million people, peaking at 5.6 million.
Later in the evening, Strictly Dance Fever's results show had an average of 4.7 million viewers, peaking at 7.2 million. On ITV1, Stars In Their Eyes had an average of 5.5 million viewers, but peaked at 6.3 million.
However, the Time Lord had Graham Norton breathing down his neck too, as a technical problem meant the sound from Strictly Dance Fever was briefly played over the opening scenes of Doctor Who.
"There was a technical problem which was resolved as quickly as possible," a BBC spokesperson said.
"We apologise if it affected viewers' enjoyment of Doctor Who."
From BBC NEWS
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 27, 2005 17:34:08 GMT
You beat me to it, Jezziekins. ;D I must say I am surprised Ant & Dec got near normal figures. Be interesting how the next 12 weeks go. A&D aren't usually on air so long. Wasn't the last series just 6 weeks? Have to see. But the Daleks will boost the good Doctor's ratings and we'll get unimaginitive headlines line, "Daleks Exterminate Ant and Dec"!
Patsy
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Post by sallywebster on Mar 27, 2005 17:35:35 GMT
You beat me to it, Jezziekins. ;D I must say I am surprised Ant & Dec got near normal figures. Be interesting how the next 12 weeks go. A&D aren't usually on air so long. Wasn't the last series just 6 weeks? Have to see. But the Daleks will boost the good Doctor's ratings and we'll get unimaginitive headlines line, "Daleks Exterminate Ant and Dec"! Patsy Ant and Dec have another 3 episodes according to my tv guide Pat. |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 27, 2005 17:40:58 GMT
Ah good. Then ITV are running scared from the Daleks. So they should! LOL! ;D
Patsy
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Post by sallywebster on Mar 27, 2005 17:41:55 GMT
Ah good. Then ITV are running scared from the Daleks. So they should! LOL! ;D Patsy LOL! They will probabaly have some other tripe on ITV. |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 27, 2005 17:48:44 GMT
Yes some reality rubbish. They never had the imagination to compete really. It's no wonder until it was moved to weekdays during Davison's era, it regularly beat ITV. Though stcking it against Corrie was a definite death knell from 87-89 but that's Jonathon Powell's fault. Him and his Eldorado. It's no wonder he went to Carlton after Eldorado flopped. Carlton were the Kings of crap TV.
Patsy
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Post by sallywebster on Mar 27, 2005 17:53:28 GMT
Yes some reality rubbish. They never had the imagination to compete really. It's no wonder until it was moved to weekdays during Davison's era, it regularly beat ITV. Though stcking it against Corrie was a definite death knell from 87-89 but that's Jonathon Powell's fault. Him and his Eldorado. It's no wonder he went to Carlton after Eldorado flopped. Carlton were the Kings of crap TV. Patsy Yes ITV have some reality crap starting next week i think, before Ant and Dec. So the Dr Who comeback is a lot better than the Crossroads one then, I know how much you hate Carlton for that. |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 27, 2005 17:57:06 GMT
Yes. That was just Crossroads in name. There was no other similarity. It flopped because they didn't put as much effort into it as the BBC has with DW. That's written by fans who know what the show is about.
Patsy
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Post by Nick on Mar 28, 2005 10:59:54 GMT
God I think Ant and Dec are overated....they bill them as top saturday night entertainers..how can you compare them with Morecambe and Wise,Dick Emery,The Two Ronnies,Bruce Forsyth...thank God Doctor Who trounced them in the ratings.......Ant and Dec were brilliant in SM;TV live...but thats all they are,,,..very good Kids presenters and thats all they'll ever be
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 28, 2005 14:06:24 GMT
True. Course when we grew up there was PROPER Saturday night TV - and every night of the week TV! Not like the cheapo crap nowadays. Speaking of M&W I also think Reeves and Mortimer are overrated - especially Vic Reeves. Bob Mortimer is very funny on his own but Vic Reeves isn't and, no matter how hard he tires, will NEVER be anything like Eric Morecambe.
Let's see how the good Doctor does in the ratings over the next few weeks. Though I see the papers have already started with the "Exterminated" headlines! The review in the Daily Mail is the first one I've read that actually praised the first ep. ;D
Patsy
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Post by Nick on Mar 28, 2005 15:09:41 GMT
Don't set me off about Vic Reeves..He's the most talentless obnoxious person on TV...every movement he does is a direct copy of Eric Morecambe,who had more talent in his fingernail than Vic will EVER have....and as for their childish,immature behaviour..U expect that sort of thing with Dick and Dom.....Bob Mortimer wants to get out before he gets draggged down by this talentless lump...and as for Lee Evans..he does make me laugh but he is a carbon copy of Norman Wisdom..if ever you see any on Normans early theatre work on video..you'd swear it was Lee in black and white...eeeh Patsy..you know how to rattle my cage lol
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 28, 2005 15:15:03 GMT
LOL Nick! It seems we have very similar grievances in TV land!
Patsy
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Post by sallywebster on Mar 28, 2005 19:32:59 GMT
I read one review in the Star today that was slating Dr Who saying Ant and Dec will overtake it soon  and they mentioned Dr Who was crap because of the mess up with Graham Norton, like thats got anything to do with it. |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 28, 2005 20:47:10 GMT
LOL! What do the Star know anyway? Ian Hyland and Garry Bushells slagged it off. No surprise Bushell's fave companions was Leela.
Patsy
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Post by Nick on Mar 28, 2005 22:12:27 GMT
Garry Bushell is such a tosser...Ian Hyland tries to be all 'New man'..but he just tries to be Garry Bushell
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Post by sallywebster on Mar 28, 2005 22:20:51 GMT
Somtimes when I read these unfair reviews by critics I think well bloody well do it yourself if you think you can do better. |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 28, 2005 22:35:22 GMT
LOL yeah! Bunch of twats. I hate remakes and not that fond of bringing things back at the bets of times. But DW has such a flexible format even Star Trek use time travel when it's meant to be about space and discovering new galaxies. I find that one big yawn because it's all glitz (and not Sabalom either - bring him back! I loved him) over story whereas DW was story over glitz. Something marvellous like The Aztecs is just a basic historical with no special effects but good story telling. It's got Barbara being mistaken for their God returned. Ian a warrior. Susan refusing an arranged marriage and the Doctor accidentally getting engaged! Or even The Romans. Pure hokum and totally inaccurate but enjoyable. Great comedy with the Doctor, Vicki, Ian and Barbara in that.
Patsy
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 29, 2005 20:23:54 GMT
From Media Guardian media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,1446693,00.html Doctor Who sees off prime-time foes in ratings war Owen Gibson, media correspondent Monday March 28, 2005 The Guardian Forget the Cybermen and the Daleks. Returning to BBC1 for the first time in 16 years, Doctor Who was on Saturday night vanquishing even more formidable foes - the popular ITV duo Ant and Dec. The revived drama, starring Christopher Eccleston as the ninth Doctor, and Billie Piper as his sidekick, Rose Tyler, attracted 9.9 million viewers on average throughout the show and seemed certain to get a new generation cowering behind their sofas every Saturday evening. Despite roping in David Beckham, Mariah Carey and Sir Trevor McDonald as guests to see off the Time Lord on BBC1, Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway managed only to attract an audience of 7.2 million, according to the unofficial figures. The new 13-part series of Doctor Who, who first hit the screens in 1963, is fast-paced and comes with hi-tech special effects. Most newspaper critics welcomed the series' return, praising Eccelston's interpretation of the doctor and concluding that the Queer as Folk writer Russell T Davies had struck the right balance of modernity and reverence. The audience for Doctor Who peaked at 10.5 million at 7.30pm, when 44% of all those watching television at the time had tuned to BBC1. The audience for Ant and Dec peaked at 8.5 million. "Obviously we are very pleased that so many people sat down as a family to watch the return of Doctor Who," said a BBC spokeswoman. The outgoing BBC1 controller, Lorraine Heggessey, will breath a sigh of relief at the successful return of the Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, after battling for four years and investing millions to bring back the series. Relentless trailers on television, a lavish launch in Cardiff, and thousands of billboard adverts preceded the series for weeks. A leak of the first episode on to the internet served only to increase the publicity. Doctor Who aficionados have already praised the new version for remaining true to the spirit of previous series. Websites for fans were also positive after seeing Saturday's show. Sylvester McCoy, the seventh Doctor Who, between 1987 and 1989, also welcomed its return. "Overall I was left feeling very positive about the new series. It had a great pace, it moved really quickly and was witty," he told the BBC. But the Easter Saturday television audience was less taken with the return to the screen of BBC1's other big signing, Graham Norton. After poaching him from Channel 4 for a reputed £3.5m, the corporation has been criticised for not finding a vehicle for his talents. Norton's first BBC show, Strictly Dance Fever, attracted less than half as many viewers as Doctor Who. What the critics say I was hooked from the outset. The whole thing thing was stuffed with in-jokes I wasn't sure I was fully getting, but I laughed anyway. Guardian After 16 years locked in the warp-shunt fantasies of the plasters-on-specs brigade, Russell T Davies has breathed new life into an old favourite. The doctor got his girl and BBC1 found itself reacquainted with an old pal.Quality. Brilliant. News of the World The current incarnation of the Time Lord has barely moved on and the one thing the future can't afford to be is old-fashioned. Sunday Times The new Who is poorly cast, badly written, pointlessly northern, relentlessly silly and, fairly crucially, the sci-fi is thoughtless and throwaway. People The new Doctor Who succeeded in establishing its own reality: skewed, sprightly and assured, without ever taking its audience's attention, or goodwill, for granted. Sunday Telegraph ----------------------- Patsy |
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Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 29, 2005 20:34:54 GMT
Also from Media Guardian:
Timelord triumphs in our age of irony
At 13, Robin McKie, our Science Editor, saw the first episode of Doctor Who. Last night, he watched with his nine-year-old daughter Olivia to see if the Doctor can still inspire
Sunday March 27, 2005
The Observer
I'd like to claim I spent my youthful Saturday evenings huddled in terror behind the family sofa as ghastly monsters pursued Doctor Who and his plucky girl assistants.
Sadly I was already a hardened teenager of 13 and therefore too old when the first black-and-white episode was shown. I was captivated nevertheless and was one of the gabbling proselytisers who helped create the show's worth-of-mouth popularity.
Four decades later, I cannot now remember why Doctor Who held me in its thrall for the next 10 years. It was fun and imaginative, I suppose, and of course we lads could oggle Leela, Jo and other Doctor Who lovelies.
But science fiction is now mainstream entertainment. Stargate, Millennium, and The X-Files have extremely high production values. You can't get away with polystyrene monsters trundling through old quarries any more.
Bringing back the old boy was therefore a courageous move and I'm pleased to say it was also an inspired one, a triumph of tight writing, wit, good editing and some smashing acting. Watching with my nine-year-old daughter Olivia added an extra pleasure, of course.
Things have changed since 1963 when everyone in Doctor Who was Home Counties and white. The Doctor (William Hartnell) was a grumpy old man, with a mimsy obedient grand-daughter whose strange antics attracted the attention of two very proper teachers from her school. They paid a visit and ended up being whisked through time and space. Next stop the Stone Age and then the Daleks. Served them right, too.
In 2005 all that remains of the old Doctor is his police box (strangely unadorned by graffiti), the weird whooshing noise it makes when heading into hyperspace, and the theme music. The Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) is now a craggily good-looking bit of trouser with a fine line in leather jackets and a pronounced northern accent. ('Lots of planets have a north,' he snarls to a complaint about his speech.)
His assistant Rose (Billie Piper) lives on a housing estate, has flunked her A-levels, is stuck with a dodgy, compensation-seeking mum, possesses a fine estuary accent and has a black boyfriend. The fact that the latter is subsequently eaten by a wheelie-bin - only to survive and then be dumped by Rose - merely adds spice to the proceedings.
However, it's not the contemporary values that make the show. It is its clever imitation of US hits such as Buffy and Angel : a mixture of smart, ironic humour and creepy horror. 'That won't last,' says the Doctor, peering at a couple posing for the pages of Heat . 'He's gay and she's an alien.' And Rose has some equally sassy gags. Told that an Evil Intelligence is going to bring all the world's plastic to life, she gasps: 'What, even breast implants?'
Thus the adult half of the audience is - on the evidence of the first episode - well-catered for. It remains to be seen what younger, thrill-seeking TV-watchers will make of it. Last night's episode was primarily concerned with establishing character and had few special effects.
Trailers suggest some fairly strong production values for future Saturdays, so I would have thought the BBC - thanks mainly to producer Russell T Davies who also penned last night's episode - is on to a winner. I for one will be watching.
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Seems the papers for posh people loved it while the red tops didn't.
Patsy
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and they mentioned Dr Who was crap because of the mess up with Graham Norton, like thats got anything to do with it.