Doctor Who returned in November 2023 in a blaze of publicity with fan-favourite actors David Tennant and Catherine Tate returning as the Doctor and Donna Noble for three specials, timed to celebrate the franchise's 60th anniversary. The three specials did well, with around 7 million viewers tuning in overnight in the UK for the reunion celebrations. This was followed by the 2023 Christmas special, which was viewed by 7.5 million people tuning in to see Ncuti Gatwa's first outing as the Fifteenth Doctor.
Series 14 proper then started airing in May and saw a mixed critical reception, with episodes like Space Babies being castigated whilst Boom and 73 Yards were much more warmly received. The overnight UK ratings saw a significant decline to under 3 million for almost the entire season. Consolidated ratings later showed a climb to just under 6 million, which was healthier but still seen as disappointing compared to the specials. Some commentators pointed out that Series 14 debuted on the BBC iPlayer streaming service almost a day before the initial transmission, but the streaming ratings took longer to count, which skewed initial results. Whilst this was true, the long-term consolidated ratings continune to show a drop, if not as bad as first feared.
Disney+ revealed limited data on the show, confirming it was the most popular UK show on the platform (not a vast field, it has to be said) and reaching as high as the seventh-most popular show on the platform at times. A Disney insider reported the performance as "okay but not stellar."
Deadline's reporting may be flawed, however; they report the budget for the new era at around $13 million per episode, but returning showrunner Russell T. Davies has already said the budget is "well under" $10 million. Other insider reports suggesting a budget of around $7 million per episode, an approximate doubling from the $3-3.5 million budget of the Chris Chibnall era, which seems much more in line with what we see on screen. This budget is unfathomably generous compared to any other era of Doctor Who, although still well down on the biggest streaming shows (Disney's Star Wars and Marvel shows are believed to all be well over $20 million per episode).
Another issue with the Deadline article is a quote suggesting that Doctor Who's 2005 return may have been modestly successful to start with; this is in fact erroneous, with the near-11 million viewers tuning in for Rose being acknowledged as a massive success even by 2005 standards.
This low-ish budget, shared between Disney and the BBC, may give Doctor Who a chance at continuing further if it can build on these relatively humble beginnings. Series 15 is already in the can and expected to air in mid-2025, with a decision on further seasons expected around then.
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