The Official Doctor Who

[HydroMan]

Well 7.2million watched the finale which was 43% share (up 1.2% compared to last years figure) according to digital spy and I don't suppose that includes the repeat on BBC3. Just goes to show how popular Doctor Who is when compared to other programmes.

 

[Metal Zombie]

Well 7.2million watched the finale which was 43% share (up 1.2% compared to last years figure) according to digital spy and I don't suppose that includes the repeat on BBC3. Just goes to show how popular Doctor Who is when compared to other programmes.

Unfortunately the viewing figures are several million down on last year. I believe this season has been poorer and there have also been several sporting events that might have lost possible Doctor Who viewers.

 

[HydroMan]

Unfortunately the viewing figures are several million down on last year, over the whole season. I believe this season has been poorer and there have also been several sporting events that might have lost possible Doctor Who viewers.

Not surprised really as there were some poor episodes amongst the gems, Idiots lantern was one of them, I only gave it a cursory glance whilst doing something else, couldn't tell you much about that episode (yawn).

 

[simonthewolf]

Unfortunately the viewing figures are several million down on last year, over the whole season. I believe this season has been poorer and there have also been several sporting events that might have lost possible Doctor Who viewers.

The Audience Satisfaction numbers have been through the roof though, and it's easily the most popular programme in its timeslot. But there has been a feeling of disappointment within fandom, I think from the Cybermen episodes onwards, that this season wasn't going to shape up to be as good or as popular as the first. The decision to start the series later in the year has had an impact on viewing figures as well, as the numbers drop for all weekend programmes on the rare occasions when the sun is a-shining.

Personally, I think the biggest disappointment was re-appearance of the alt-Cybermen in the last two parter. So what's happened to 'our' Cybermen? Hopefully they're still out there somewhere. I can't remember the ending of Silver Nemesis, so they may have been wiped out of existance or suffered some similar fate. But then, that didn't prevent the re-emergence of the Daleks in their now traditional penultimate episode cliffhanger...

 

[Jaffa Cake]

The decision to start the series later in the year has had an impact on viewing figures as well, as the numbers drop for all weekend programmes on the rare occasions when the sun is a-shining.

I can't help but think that the World Cup would have had an impact too. I know we were at a lot of barbeques and stuff when matches were on, which meant I wasn't able to watch Who when it was shown on a Saturday and had to rely on it being videoed so I could watch it the next day. I suspect I wasn't the only one doing this.

 

[Metal Zombie]

I can't help but think that the World Cup would have had an impact too. I know we were at a lot of barbeques and stuff when matches were on, which meant I wasn't able to watch Who when it was shown on a Saturday and had to rely on it being videoed so I could watch it the next day. I suspect I wasn't the only one doing this.

I think this is the main reason for the lower figures, aswell as Wimbledon and some other TV sport events (that charity footie game that was on ITV!). When a sporting event is on, people often go out to see it in bars, or have a barbecue etc., which means they don't get to see anything else that's on around the time.

As for audience appreciation figures, how do they work that out? I don't think it's really a figure worth paying too much attention to.

I do think the new Cybermen are a bit crap (the voices, urgh!) but the idea of giving them a televised 'origin' wasn't a bad idea for new viewers (albeit in a **** 2-parter in my opinion).

 

[Piarco]

I definitely had to record at least half of the series due to summer related stuff. But I thought recording figures were included?

 

[Metal Zombie]

I definitely had to record at least half of the series due to summer related stuff. But I thought recording figures were included?

Viewing figures are calulated from TV owners who have volunteered to have a box attached to their TV, which keeps a record of what they watched (including what they recorded). So viewing figures are always only an intelligent estimate.

Thats unless digital can send details back to TV stations to show whats been watched but I don't know of this and I seriously doubt it.

So what you, or I watch Piarco, doesn't matter in the slighest in terms of the estimated viewing figures.

 

[Metal Zombie]

Personally, I think the biggest disappointment was re-appearance of the alt-Cybermen in the last two parter. So what's happened to 'our' Cybermen? Hopefully they're still out there somewhere. I can't remember the ending of Silver Nemesis, so they may have been wiped out of existance or suffered some similar fate. But then, that didn't prevent the re-emergence of the Daleks in their now traditional penultimate episode cliffhanger...

2 stars about right for Rise Of The Cybermen/The Age Of Steel? I would like to hear any comments on my ratings for my forthcoming web-site.

And I haven't got a pic (as you can see) of the Special Edition boxset of series 2 but it's silver with a protruding cyberman face on the front of it. The normal series 2 boxset is quite a plain affair.

 

[simonthewolf]

2 stars about right for Rise Of The Cybermen/The Age Of Steel? I would like to hear any comments on my ratings for my forthcoming web-site.

Rise of the Cybermen was a great episode. Tension was built up nicely, and the scene with the Cybs emerging from the darkness and crashing the party at the end was excellently done. Also, Harper's use of low camera angles made them appear hugely more menacing than in past episodes. I just didn't think much of the second episode, particularly all that emotion chip nonsense. Sorry.

To be honest, my main problem with that two parter was the alt-Cybermen themselves. Although beautifully designed, I just didn't like the concept. The original Cybermen had a fantastic back-story, with a planet losing its orbit and slowly spinning into deep space, forcing the human inhabitants to gradually augment their bodies with cybernetic parts to aid their chances of survivial. But in doing so, they lost whatever it was that made them human in the first place. Compare that to the 'nutter in a wheelchair who wants to take over the world' genesis of the new ones. Straight out of a bond flick. And if they are no longer humanoid based, being just human brains stuffed into a tin can, then why do they look the way they do?

Edit: That new website you're making looks cool. Superb name for it as well!

 

[Metal Zombie]

I got the original four Doctor Who episodes with Hartnell? starting with The Unearthly Child. It's nearly un-watcheable because it's so old and well, colorless.

Well here's a colourless story that's better than most. The Daleks (1963/64) is also excellent and better than any of the new series dalek stories.

'Colourless', oh your god! Do you have an intellect? Actually don't answer that. One black and white that is crap in my opinion is The Web Planet. Pantomine aliens and it goes on and on and on and on...

 

[Sky Blue]

Unfortunately the viewing figures are several million down on last year.

Wrong, sorry. Not sure where you got that from.

The Season 1 averages were 7.95M viewers, 38.3% audience share, 82.7 AI rating.
The Season 2 Average was 8.04m viewers, 40% audience share and 84.5 AI.

Aurguably, audience share and AI are more important than viewing figures. Impossible planet/satan pit did dip into the 5m mark but as the audience share was constant most people probably were out in the sunshine and not watching any TV at all.

It's also interesting to note that AI for season 2 only dipped to 80 or below once (love and monsters, 76) but it did three times in season 1
(The Unquiet Dead 80, Rose 76, End of The World 76)

 

[Sky Blue]

Well here's a colourless story that's better than most. The Daleks (1963/64) is also excellent and better than any of the new series dalek stories.

'Colourless', oh your god! Do you have an intellect? Actually don't answer that. One black and white that is crap in my opinion is The Web Planet. Pantomine aliens and it goes on and on and on and on...

Tomb of the Cyberman is one of my favourite Who stories, new/old, black/white. It's fantastic

"Zzzybermen do not make promisiz-ah!"

 

[Metal Zombie]

Rise of the Cybermen was a great episode. Tension was built up nicely, and the scene with the Cybs emerging from the darkness and crashing the party at the end was excellently done. Also, Harper's use of low camera angles made them appear hugely more menacing than in past episodes. I just didn't think much of the second episode, particularly all that emotion chip nonsense. Sorry.

It was *****. And as for Grame 'why is he directing new Who?' Harper, all he's ever done is shot monsters from a low angle (Revelation Of The Daleks), done the absolutely stupid 'talking to camera' bits in Androzani and as for the Cybs emerging from the dark - it was ab.-*****. The Doc and co ran a few yards but didn't notice a dozen, extremly noisy, shiny Cybs in front of them. What crap directing. In fact, utter crap. -Sniff- bar the low shots lol.

 

[Metal Zombie]

Tomb of the Cyberman is one of my favourite Who stories, new/old, black/white. It's fantastic

"Zzzybermen do not make promisiz-ah!"

Yeah apart from the voices -cough-. Better than the Tenth Planet voices though, christ. Hmm the Cybermen, bar the 1980/mid 70's ones seem to have a problem with voice simulation. Even Victoria (thats on the mac not in Who lol) has a better voice.

 

[Metal Zombie]

Wrong, sorry. Not sure where you got that from.

The Season 1 averages were 7.95M viewers, 38.3% audience share, 82.7 AI rating.
The Season 2 Average was 8.04m viewers, 40% audience share and 84.5 AI.

Aurguably, audience share and AI are more important than viewing figures. Impossible planet/satan pit did dip into the 5m mark but as the audience share was constant most people probably were out in the sunshine and not watching any TV at all.

It's also interesting to note that AI for season 2 only dipped to 80 or below once (love and monsters, 76) but it did three times in season 1
(The Unquiet Dead 80, Rose 76, End of The World 76)

No way! I'm sure season one was getting 8-11 million on average.

 

[Metal Zombie]

The original Cybermen had a fantastic back-story, with a planet losing its orbit and slowly spinning into deep space, forcing the human inhabitants to gradually augment their bodies with cybernetic parts to aid their chances of survivial. But in doing so, they lost whatever it was that made them human in the first place. Compare that to the 'nutter in a wheelchair who wants to take over the world' genesis of the new ones. Straight out of a bond flick. And if they are no longer humanoid based, being just human brains stuffed into a tin can, then why do they look the way they do?

Absolutely agree on this though. When it's just a brain in a suit is has no interest for me. The borg worked cos u could see they were human etc. once. With the old cybermen u don't know what was inside them (hopefully the brain and more such as spinal cord hopefully. Maybe even a reinforced skeleton) and so worked due to the mystery.

Just a brain in a can makes them so unhuman, that the disturbing but fascinating feeling of watching the Cybermen/Borg is lost. They might aswell be robots.

 

[simonthewolf]

as for the Cybs emerging from the dark - it was ab.-*****. The Doc and co ran a few yards but didn't notice a dozen, extremly noisy, shiny Cybs in front of them. What crap directing. In fact, utter crap. -Sniff- bar the low shots lol.

The first time you see them - marching towards the house with Tennant and Billie at the window - that was cool. After that, things went downhill pretty quickly.

I didn't like the new Vulcan nerve grip weapon either, inflicting both a high voltage electric charge and a propensity for excessive gurning.

 

[Metal Zombie]

I didn't like the new Vulcan nerve grip weapon either, inflicting both a high voltage electric charge and a propensity for excessive gurning.

I thought that was OK. They've given the Cybs a sort of electric theme with that and the electric rifles in AOG/DD.

And what was with the SAME stomping sound on grass, not to mention the silent Cybermen who killed Mrs. Moore (or Mrs. Mooure for annoying geordies who can't pronounce it properly) it was so **** it was hilarious!!! You hear what I'm saying? So bad it was funny, hahahahaha. I'm turning into Drefuss from Return Of The Pink Panther. What is Doctor Who coming to? Cries... Than Laughs...

Oh and sometimes you heard plastic not steel when they moved their arms etc.

 

[Sky Blue]

No way! I'm sure season one was getting 8-11 million on average.

Rose 10.806m/45%/76
End of The World 7.970m/.38%/76
The Unquiet Dead 8.860m - 38%/16/80
Aliens of London 7.632m/36%/14/82
World War Three 7.978m/40%/14/81
Dalek 8.628m/45%/16/84
The Long Game 8.008m/40% TVR:14 AI:81
Fathers Day 8.056m/44%/83
The Empty Child 7.114m/37%/84
The Doctor Dances 6.858m/39%/85
Boomtown 7.685m/39%/82
Bad Wolf 6.812m/38%/AI:86
The Parting of the ways 6.913m/44%/89

Children In Need 10.8m/45%

The Christmas Invasion 9.844m/44%/84


New Earth 8.616m/40%/85
Tooth & Claw 9.240m/43%/83
School Reunion 8.308/42%/85
The Girl in the Fireplace 7.900m/38%/84
The Rise of The Cybermen 9.221/44%/86
The Age of Steel 7.635m/38%/86
The Idiot’s Lantern 6.758m/33%/84
The Impossible Planet 6.316m/41%/85
The Satan Pit 6.080/38%/86
Love & Monsters 6.66m/38.3%(overnights)/76
Fear Her 7.14m/39.7%(overnights)/83
Army of Ghosts 7.66m/43.2%(overnights)/86
Doomsday 7.72m(overnights)/43.2%(overnights)/89

 

[Metal Zombie]

Nice one Skyblue. I never finished watching the Children In Need mini episode, it was so bad I had to turn it off lol.
If you do the math season 2 has a lower mean overall (but only slighty) and this is probably due to the interest of the 1st episode.

 

[simonthewolf]

Absolutely agree on this though. When it's just a brain in a suit is has no interest for me. The borg worked cos u could see they were human etc. once. With the old cybermen u don't know what was inside them (hopefully the brain and more such as spinal cord hopefully. Maybe even a reinforced skeleton) and so worked due to the mystery.

Have you listened to the Big Finish audio 'Spare Parts'? That scene when a power cut interupts the cybernation process, and the half-cybernised little girl returns home to her family, totally unaware of what she's become.... Nasty

 

[simonthewolf]

With the old cybermen u don't know what was inside them (hopefully the brain and more such as spinal cord hopefully. Maybe even a reinforced skeleton) and so worked due to the mystery.

In Earthshock the Cybs had a perspex panel on their helmets so you could see the actors chins when they talked. Whether that was intentional to show their human origins, or whether the BBC production team had just stumbled across some really cheap plastic, who knows? Either way, there's definately a whole head in there.

 

[Metal Zombie]

Have you listened to the Big Finish audio 'Spare Parts'? That scene when a power cut interupts the cybernation process, and the half-cybernised little girl returns home to her family, totally unaware of what she's become.... Nasty

Yeah I downloaded Spare Parts a few weeks ago. What a load of crap, I downloaded some other Who audio plays aswell, they were not worth the effort, guess I was expcting them to be as good as the televised stories. That bit with the girl was just naff, something they would use in the new Who, urgh...

Sometimes I wonder how much of the new Who is stolen from these audio plays and novels by RTD and co, cos I see so many 'references' to them in the episodes. Does RTD genuinly have the talent for Doctor Who? He seems to borrow so much.

The writer of ROTC/TAOS had read Spare Parts btw.

 

[Metal Zombie]

In Earthshock the Cybs had a perspex panel on their helmets so you could see the actors chins when they talked. Whether that was intentional to show their human origins, or whether the BBC production team had just stumbled across some really cheap plastic, who knows? Either way, there's definately a whole head in there.

It was intentional. You will also notice at the end of Earthshock, the Cyber Leaders battery pack inside his helmet, falls down to near his jaw and you can see it lol.