DR WHO has been exterminated from the screen at the end of 33 years after flopping in the US.
A £3.5million comeback film — featuring Paul McGann as the eighth time-travelling Doctor — was watched by only 8.3million viewers in the States. finishing a lowly 75th in the ratings.
Nine million saw the 90-minute programme when it was screened in Britain in May.
But despite healthy video and overseas sales, US chiefs are refusing to co-finance further adventures with the BBC.
An insider said: "Without US backing there's no future for the Doctor. It was worth a final shake of the dice, but it's over."
McGann, 36, stood to make £1.25million if the Americans had supported a new series.
William Hartnell was the first Time Lord when Dr Who began on November 23, 1963.
He was followed by Patrick Troughton 1966-69, Jon Pertwee 1969-74. Tom Baker 1975-81, Peter Davison 1982-84, Colin Baker 1984-86 and Sylvester McCoy 1987-89.
Caption: FLOP: Paul McGann
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