Summary

  • Doctor Who's "The Church on Ruby Road" received a massive 1.79 million streams on BBC iPlayer during Christmas week.
  • With an overnight rating of 4.73 million, the special sured the final Doctor Who 60th anniversary episode.
  • This strong viewership for the seasonal special bodes well for the Doctor Who season 14 premiere.

Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials, which saw the return of David Tennant and Catherine Tate.

Radio Times reveals the viewership numbers for Doctor Who’s Christmas special, and it is a staggering total. During the week of December 25–December 31, the Doctor Who revival was viewed over 10 million times on the BBC iPlayer. “The Church on Ruby Road,” specifically, received 1.79 million streams and had an overnight rating of 4.73 million on Christmas Day.

The "Church on Ruby Road" Numbers Bode Well For Doctor Who Season 14

The season special's 4.73 million overnight rating positions the special above the final Doctor Who 60th anniversary episode. “The Giggle” received a 4.62 million rating overnight upon its release. The Christmas special’s totals also position “The Church on Ruby Road” as the third-most watched show for the BBC on Christmas Day.

The numbers for this Doctor Who seasonal special are impressive for a one-off episode. There was massive hype surrounding the Doctor Who anniversary specials, with “The Giggle” causing particular intrigue due to its reintroduction of the infamous character The Toymaker. Viewers must have been satisfied with showrunner Russell T Davies’ work with the specials, as they were drawn back in droves for “The Church on Ruby Road.”

The success of “The Church on Ruby Road” is a great sign for the forthcoming Doctor Who season 14. Gatwa was introduced in “The Giggle,” and his presence was clearly beloved enough for viewers to return for more shortly thereafter. If this trend continues, Doctor Who is set for an impressive season 14 premiere as it prepares for a mid-2024 arrival.

Source: Radio Times

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Doctor Who
Adventure
Mystery
Sci-Fi
5/10
300
7.3/10
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

Cast

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Streaming

The latest Doctor Who series introduces the Fifteenth Doctor, ed by new companion Ruby Sunday.

Writers
Russell T. Davies, Dave Gibbons, Kate Herron, Steven Moffat
Seasons
2
Story By
Sydney Newman C. E. Webber Donald Wilson