Dr Who… Awesome News If You're A Fan

Dr Who… Awesome News If You're A Fan

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Moonhawk

10,730 posts

218 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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bexVN said:
I did comment to hubby about why on earth is on a Sunday!
Less competition and a more favourable time slot.

If they kept it on a Saturday, it would be going up against prime time shows on ITV, and would have to occupy either a very early or very late slot so as not to bump strictly.

If they went for the late slot - it would be going directly up against X-factor, if they went for the early slot, it'd be (currently) up against the Harry Potter movies.

IMO - the slot immediately before strictly on a Sunday also helps to hook in one of the key target demographics, women and girls.

According to the article below, Sunday's viewing figures allegedly show (I can't confirm it) that the number of under 16 girls watching Dr Who has more than doubled over the last series - and has actually surpassed the number of under 16 boys watching.

http://www.dailyedge.ie/jodie-whittaker-doctor-who...

FourWheelDrift

88,375 posts

283 months

Monday 8th October 2018
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Evangelion said:
bexVN said:
... I am sure it was a midweek show when I was younger ...
No, I'm pretty sure i was always on a Saturday.
Sylvester McCoy's run went out on Mondays for the first two series and Wednesdays for his final series. Some of Colin Baker's went out on Thursdays, such as the Caves of Androzani. Peter Davison's series went out on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Check the days with the dates on here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Doctor_Who_e...


Moonhawk

10,730 posts

218 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
Quite a few news outlets seem to be running with the story that this series opener was a ratings hit (which it clearly was), but are also citing that it pulled in around double the viewing figures of the last series opener.

Not sure where they are getting their figures from, but according to this site - the Opener of the last series attracted 6.68 million viewers, which is only 1.52 million below last night's.

http://guide.doctorwhonews.net/story.php?story=The...

Also isn't it a little disingenuous to compare a debut episode with series opener for a seasoned Doctor. The debut episodes always seem to get decent viewing figures. If you compare figures from that site for just the debut episodes, last night was actually the lowest debut for any Doctor since Sylvester McCoy.

Whitaker = 8.2
Capaldi = 9.17
Smith = 10.08
Tennant = 8.62
Eccleston = 10.82
McGann = 9.08

For the record, I think Whitaker did a pretty good job and was pleasantly surprised. She clearly is 'The Doctor'. I'm keen to see how she grows into the role, but at the same time, i'm not sure misrepresenting facts or being disingenuous with ratings comparisons actually brings anything of value to the table.


Edited by Moonhawk on Monday 8th October 22:19

bexVN

14,682 posts

210 months

Monday 8th October 2018
quotequote all
FourWheelDrift said:
Evangelion said:
bexVN said:
... I am sure it was a midweek show when I was younger ...
No, I'm pretty sure i was always on a Saturday.
Sylvester McCoy's run went out on Mondays for the first two series and Wednesdays for his final series. Some of Colin Baker's went out on Thursdays, such as the Caves of Androzani. Peter Davison's series went out on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Check the days with the dates on here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Doctor_Who_e...
All my era so good to know I was right! I worry that my memory isn't always so reliable these days!!

Zad

12,695 posts

235 months

Tuesday 9th October 2018
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ash73 said:
Hate her stupid outfit, love everything else.
That's about it really. Far more watchable than Matt Smith. I preferred the previous fella's outfit that she started off with! The new one just smacks of trying too hard, and she doesn't need to. She had me convinced in well under the requisite 30 seconds. On the negative side, the Dr's sonic screwdriver seems to look like a giant metallic glowing poo, and the new theme music doesn't seem to ever get going. Maybe we'll hear the full version next week in the intro.

Other good bits: Nice reference in the titles (did I miss the intro?) to the old chaotic video feedback titles from 1963. Nice not to have to the same Murray Gold musical clichés all the time (male voice choir going AAAAAAH, double bass string arpeggios, flute going fweeep all the time). More synth in the music is a good thing, guitar and orchestra just aren't the right vibe. Shame they didn't keep the clock / cogs intro sequence for one last run - it was designed by a bloke from Leeds.

I think it is only this episode which is set in Sheffield so far as I know. Which is a refreshing change from Cardiff AGAIN or London (but really Cardiff) AGAIN. It also gives a vague hand-wavy reason for her accent too. Shame Tosin Cole can't quite grasp the accent mind you. Oh, and in my part of West Yorkshire people would generally say "woulda" rather than "would've" or "would of" (spit). The "would of" people tend to be the same people who say "haitch".

An hour wasn't enough for the initial set-up and a plot. This was the same for the very first reboot "Rose" though, so I'm disappointed they have no plans for multi-part or story arc episodes. I'm also not thrilled at the prospect of having a line up of celebrities (or at least known actors) appearing at various points in the series, but time will tell. All in all, for a 6:45pm kids / family thing, absolutely fine.

Oh yeah, and a note to the script writers: Only London has 3rd rail power in the UK. Sheffield is about 150 miles too far away for that.

mygoldfishbowl

3,691 posts

142 months

Tuesday 9th October 2018
quotequote all
Moonhawk said:
bexVN said:
I did comment to hubby about why on earth is on a Sunday!
Less competition and a more favourable time slot.

If they kept it on a Saturday, it would be going up against prime time shows on ITV, and would have to occupy either a very early or very late slot so as not to bump strictly.

If they went for the late slot - it would be going directly up against X-factor, if they went for the early slot, it'd be (currently) up against the Harry Potter movies.

IMO - the slot immediately before strictly on a Sunday also helps to hook in one of the key target demographics, women and girls.

According to the article below, Sunday's viewing figures allegedly show (I can't confirm it) that the number of under 16 girls watching Dr Who has more than doubled over the last series - and has actually surpassed the number of under 16 boys watching.

http://www.dailyedge.ie/jodie-whittaker-doctor-who...
Before seeing that link I was gonna say that the move to Sunday probably had something to do with the targeted audience being young girls, best night to find them indoors getting ready for school.

Moonhawk

10,730 posts

218 months

Tuesday 9th October 2018
quotequote all
Zad said:
Oh yeah, and a note to the script writers: Only London has 3rd rail power in the UK. Sheffield is about 150 miles too far away for that.
Not true. The Northern and Wirral Merseyrail lines also use it - as do a few other places (not Sheffield though as far as I can tell).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_electrificat...

Rumblestripe

2,916 posts

161 months

Tuesday 9th October 2018
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The Sunday slot is because it has been displaced by "Strictly Come Dancing" and by placing it before the results show for the same you get a run of Coutnryfile, Who, Dancing which I guess tend to retain watchers from one to t'other?

NormalWisdom

2,139 posts

158 months

Tuesday 9th October 2018
quotequote all
I watched Capaldi's first 2 episodes and thought he was shocking - An insult to the Dr Who legend. Lived on Repeats since then.

Caught up with the first lady Doc last night - For me it is worthy of setting-up on the recorder again and even Mrs Wisdom agreed (she was also totally unimpressed with Capaldi). I liked the Sheffield setting, Whittaker's staccato delivery (much like Tennant) and of course crossing the accent with the Woman gives us a true Who novelty.

Edited by NormalWisdom on Tuesday 9th October 10:06

NormalWisdom

2,139 posts

158 months

Tuesday 9th October 2018
quotequote all
Moonhawk said:
Zad said:
Oh yeah, and a note to the script writers: Only London has 3rd rail power in the UK. Sheffield is about 150 miles too far away for that.
Not true. The Northern and Wirral Merseyrail lines also use it - as do a few other places (not Sheffield though as far as I can tell).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_electrificat...
and SWT down to Reading, Basingstoke, Southampton Exeter and Southern in Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, Sussex.....

r11co

6,244 posts

229 months

Tuesday 9th October 2018
quotequote all
NormalWisdom said:
Whittaker's staccato delivery (much like Tennant)
My exact thoughts - she playing it like Tennant, which was to be expected considering how well they know each other.

Convert

3,747 posts

217 months

Tuesday 9th October 2018
quotequote all

Hackney

6,810 posts

207 months

Tuesday 9th October 2018
quotequote all
NormalWisdom said:
I watched Capaldi's first 2 episodes and thought he was shocking - An insult to the Dr Who legend. Lived on Repeats since then.

Caught up with the first lady Doc last night - For me it is worthy of setting-up on the recorder again and even Mrs Wisdom agreed (she was also totally unimpressed with Capaldi). I liked the Sheffield setting, Whittaker's staccato delivery (much like Tennant) and of course crossing the accent with the Woman gives us a true Who novelty.

Edited by NormalWisdom on Tuesday 9th October 10:06
The writing for Capaldi was abysmal, he deserved better, I thought he was great as the Doctor but I actually lost interest in the series.

ecsrobin

17,019 posts

164 months

Tuesday 9th October 2018
quotequote all
NormalWisdom said:
Moonhawk said:
Zad said:
Oh yeah, and a note to the script writers: Only London has 3rd rail power in the UK. Sheffield is about 150 miles too far away for that.
Not true. The Northern and Wirral Merseyrail lines also use it - as do a few other places (not Sheffield though as far as I can tell).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_electrificat...
and SWT down to Reading, Basingstoke, Southampton Exeter and Southern in Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, Sussex.....
SWT sadly is gone. What was an affordable decent service has been replaced by SWR which have been on strike since they took over and the prices have skyrocketed.

Jim the Sunderer

3,238 posts

181 months

Wednesday 10th October 2018
quotequote all
The only thing for the dads was that unlikely Volvo estate Bradley Walsh's wife was driving.

A bit of skirt wouldn't go amiss.

Evangelion

7,639 posts

177 months

Wednesday 10th October 2018
quotequote all
Jim the Sunderer said:
The only thing for the dads was that unlikely Volvo estate Bradley Walsh's wife was driving.

A bit of skirt wouldn't go amiss.
I don't know, I thought the police lady was quite cute.

matchmaker

8,463 posts

199 months

Wednesday 10th October 2018
quotequote all
Moonhawk said:
Zad said:
Oh yeah, and a note to the script writers: Only London has 3rd rail power in the UK. Sheffield is about 150 miles too far away for that.
Not true. The Northern and Wirral Merseyrail lines also use it - as do a few other places (not Sheffield though as far as I can tell).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_electrificat...
Glasgow Subway as well.

Zad

12,695 posts

235 months

Wednesday 10th October 2018
quotequote all
I originally had 3 or 4 lines in my post on other areas with 3rd rail and overhead catenary, but decided it sounded a bit too nerdy even for me hehe

Randy Winkman

16,016 posts

188 months

Wednesday 10th October 2018
quotequote all
Evangelion said:
Jim the Sunderer said:
The only thing for the dads was that unlikely Volvo estate Bradley Walsh's wife was driving.

A bit of skirt wouldn't go amiss.
I don't know, I thought the police lady was quite cute.
Me too. I happy in that respect.

I found the first episode quite watchable without exactly being a classic. At least it didn't do all that going back and forth in time stuff which completely confuses me. Dr Who can do without that.

kev1974

4,029 posts

128 months

Wednesday 10th October 2018
quotequote all
Why was matey learning to ride his bike so high up. Purely so he would be able to toss it down into the spooky forest I presume.