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Viewing figures for Doctor Who have dropped by 1.2 million since Matt Smith took over as the new Time Lord, according to the latest TV ratings.
The 27-year-old actor and assistant Karen Gillan, 22, were expected to continue the success of the previous Doctor, David Tennant, whose last full series was in 2008.
The new series has had an average of six million viewers, down from 7.2 million for Tennant. But the BBC claims viewing figures have held and that more people are watching on demand through media such as BBC iPlayer.
Paul Gambaccini has been signed up as the face of a new television channel catering for the over-fifties to be launched in September. Vintage TV will cover music, fashion and trends and from the Forties to the Eighties and show classics such as The South Bank Show and The Old Grey Whistle Test.
Reader views (17)
David Tennant was brilliant, a first class actor and perfect as The Doctor. Ditto Russell T Davies as the writer. I think Matt Smith is doing well, but the scripts are not as compelling and no-one can come close to DT. I still love the format and will keep watching, but am not so bothered if I miss it.
- Stef, Kingsbridge, Devon, 01/07/2010 11:00
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Not true Jock: I do recognise good acting, I don't watch soap operas and there's never enough said! I simply don't agree with your assessment of him, (a view evidently shared by quite a few others).
I love the way so many assume that if you don't share the same opinion as them you must automatically be stupid...
- John, London, 30/06/2010 07:26
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Matt Smith is a wonderful and vibrant actor, who has brought an almost Troughtonesque quality to the role - after 4 years of David Tennant, I've found him quite refreshing. Anyone who says he lacks gravitas, energy, etc. obviously doesn't recognise a very good actor when they see one - and probably only really watch soap operas. Enough said...
- Jock, Glasgow, 30/06/2010 02:10
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She's lovely, but he is totally unsuited to the role - lightweight and totally lacking in any kind gravitas.
Tennant & Eccleston had an 'aura' about them: It felt plausible that they could perhaps be older & wiser than their years and meaner & more powerful than their looks - Smith totally and utterly fails to carry that off, which is the fundamental basis of the entire show...
- John, London, 30/06/2010 00:27
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I quite like Matt Smith - it's that ghastly girl I can't stand. She has two expressions - pouting while looking left, and pouting while looking right. Her voice is just a constant perky squeak. The story lines have been very confusing as well. I say keep him, lose her, get new writers.
- Sarah, Surrey, 29/06/2010 20:45
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I may be wrong, but doesn't it take a while for every Dr Who character to build up a fan base? Tennant was a superb Dr Who, but he wanted to move on. Bad luck - carbon copies weren't available and would have been lambasted anyway for just that reason. As for those who look down their noses at anyone over the age of 6 watching the show - have you never heard of nostalgic escapism? It's an incredibly normal human pursuit. Nonsensical storylines? I do 'serious' all day, every day - once a week zoning out in the imaginings of the Dr Who writers is not selling out my multi-decade age group's honour.
Here's a hint - if you don't like it - don't watch.
- Rogan, Irving, 29/06/2010 19:49
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David Tennant was cute, a fabulous actor, and the writing of the Dr. Who shows with him were excellent and often simply brilliant. Poor Matt has neither Mr. Tennant's looks nor skills as an actor. The last time I saw him was his bare bum in that Billie Piper hooker series. That killed it. The new Dr. Who should not be first seen as a john for a British hooker series. This Dr. needs to regenerate soon and dump the current companion who is more irritating than interesting.
- NoBozo, Scottsdale USA, 29/06/2010 19:43
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This is supposed to be a family program, and we have watched it since it first returned. Both my sons (in their 30) have always loved it. In our view it has gone downhill since David Tennent left. Of course it’s not meant to be serious, it’s meant to be fun, but Matt Smith and Karen Gillan just do not seem to be right. Add to this the awful storylines and you can see why people are switching off, including us.
- Sylvia, Epping Essex, 29/06/2010 18:16
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The worst Dr Who I have ever seen, Matt Smith looks and acts like a person with a mental disorder totally disjointed and doesn't even seem to look at the props he is given, on a scale of one to ten Tennant is ten smith is minus ten, the viewing figures tell it all the show is finished unless they ditch these two and get some decent actors in.
- James, Grays, 29/06/2010 18:05
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I've only paid passing attention to Dr Who over the past thirty years since my children grew up, but couldn't help notice recently that the David Tennant Dr's idea of acting was to make 'popout eyes' for dramatic, or in fact any other effect.
Or is that now a Timelord physiological feature.
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland, 29/06/2010 17:53
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The new series: I love it!
Loads of energy. Great stories. A bit silly now and again, bit then it always was! Some great quotes a few insider jokes for those of us who have been following it since way back.
Really great. A British institution.
The BBC is right by the way, I do watch via the iPlayer rather than live. (Sometimes more than once)
- BTs are Cool, London, 29/06/2010 17:37
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I have been a fan for years but this series I never watched it live. Hate the new grahics and music, and hate the failures at end of episode to lead you into following one.
Why change such a vibrant format.
I will not buy the dvd's although I have everything since Dr Who started.
- Patrick Mc Crossan, LONDON, 29/06/2010 15:14
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Anyone wanting to watch a good adult sci-fi show should try the reimagining of Battlestar Galatica (2004). Personally I only like the old 60's and 70's Doctor Who shows... dodgy sets and awful makeup, at least that added to the entertainment... Quatermass & Blake 7 are probally the pinicial of British TV sci-fi and their donkeys years old...
- Paul B, London, 29/06/2010 14:58
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@ James - Dr Who is a kids show. That's why it's on a Saturday night at 6pm. My kids and their friends love it. Not all kids are football lovers.
- Mark, London, 29/06/2010 14:37
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Bring back David Tennant.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 29/06/2010 13:28
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I am amazed that so many people still watch this childish nonsense.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK, 29/06/2010 13:27
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bloody hell, BBC! VintageTV? why not call it something equally insulting like, say, Old Sod's TV or, maybe, Where's the Remote, What channel Is this, What's My Name TV?
Jeez, the Beeb is increasingly run by 30somethings with a knowledge of showbusiness unparalleled since Victoria Aitken learnt to rap...
- marino, london, 29/06/2010 13:14
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