Another round of applause goes out to Russell T Davies for completely destroying Doctor Who, as it’s now confirmed that the new season’s launch on Saturday hit the lowest viewership in the show’s 60+ year history.
Following the first season from last year which achieved the worst ratings in the history of Doctor Who, Davies and Ncuti Gatwa have set a new record ratings low.
What are the ratings?
The UK overnight ratings reveal that the premiere episode of Doctor Who Season 2 was only watched by 2 million viewers.
That beats the penultimate episode of last year, the previous record-setting low, which drew in 2.02 million viewers. Last year’s season finale of 2.25M was also the least-watched season finale in the show’s entire 60-year history as well.
Doctor Who canceled? What about Season 3?
There have been rumors that Doctor Who is getting canceled and is about to go on a big hiatus following the conclusion of Season 2.
Rumors offer Season 3 isn’t happening, that Ncuti Gatwa wants out, and that Disney – who forked out a reported $100 million – isn’t happy as nobody is watching Doctor Who on Disney+.
It’s known that none of the Doctor Who episodes on Disney+ made the Nielsen ratings, which are automatically turned on in your accounts.
Davies recently hinted the big hiatus is coming, and he didn’t seem to bothered by it. He filled in the BBC’s Newsround:
“I kind of know that the Doctor’s reached the status of, like, Robin Hood. Sometimes there might be a pause, and during that pause, the viewers of Newsround now will grow up a few years and start writing stories and they’ll bring it back. So I have absolute faith that that will survive because I am living proof of it and that’s what happens to good ideas. No good idea ever dies.”
Fan reaction
Similar to the Chris Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker era, and last season, the fan reaction to Doctor Who Season 2 hasn’t been positive.
Currently, on Rotten Tomatoes, the Season 2 premiere episode only has a 45% fan score. The fan score, including all the episodes from 2023, is only at 36%.
WTF??
— Nerdrotic (@Nerdrotics) April 12, 2025
They actually said this in Doctor Who pic.twitter.com/x9KPH6uY7H
Doctor Who ratings:
Season 1:
- Ep 01 – 2.60m
- Ep 02 – 2.40m
- Ep 03 – 2.04m
- Ep 04 – 2.62m
- Ep 05 – 2.12m
- Ep 06 – 2.11m
- Ep 07 – 2.02m
- Ep 08 – 2.25m
Season 2:
- Ep 01: 2M
