Doctor Who returns to battle falling ratings
- Publication: The Guardian
- Date: 2017-01-15
- Author: Hannah Ellis-Petersen
- Page: Guide
- Language: English
Doctor Who returns to TV screens on Saturday night to do battle with one of its most persistent enemies: falling ratings. The show's audience has been declining gently in recent years, from an average of 7.5 million in 2011 to 6.0 million in 2016.
This series will be the last to feature Peter Capaldi as the Time Lord and it also marks the departure of head writer Steven Moffat, who took over from Russell T Davies in 2009.
The BBC is hoping that Moffat's final series will revive the fortunes of Doctor Who. After his departure, the task of regathering the lost momentum behind Doctor Who will fall to new showrunner
Peter Capaldi, pictured with his new assistant, played by Pearl Mackie, will regenerate into a new Doctor at the end of this series
Chris Chibnall, who is best known as the creator of the ITV drama Broadchurch.
Tonight's episode, which features an appearance from Doctor Who's recurring enemy the Daleks, will also be the debut for new assistant Bill Potts, played by Pearl Mackie.
She is the first gay companion to the Time Lord, though Moffat has condemned the fuss over her sexuality.
Explaining his decision to leave the show after three series, Capaldi said: "Doctor Who is a great job but it is a TV factory with so many episodes and I would worry that I wouldn't do my best work with the same vigour and fun?'
Capaldi confirmed he had recorded his death scene but would not give any clues about who would be stepping into his regenerated shoes.
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- APA 6th ed.: Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (2017-01-15). Doctor Who returns to battle falling ratings. The Guardian p. Guide.
- MLA 7th ed.: Ellis-Petersen, Hannah. "Doctor Who returns to battle falling ratings." The Guardian [add city] 2017-01-15, Guide. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Ellis-Petersen, Hannah. "Doctor Who returns to battle falling ratings." The Guardian, edition, sec., 2017-01-15
- Turabian: Ellis-Petersen, Hannah. "Doctor Who returns to battle falling ratings." The Guardian, 2017-01-15, section, Guide edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Doctor Who returns to battle falling ratings | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Doctor_Who_returns_to_battle_falling_ratings | work=The Guardian | pages=Guide | date=2017-01-15 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=18 May 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Doctor Who returns to battle falling ratings | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Doctor_Who_returns_to_battle_falling_ratings | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=18 May 2025}}</ref>
