#apparently they had no idea RTD was returning until it was annnounced

[thenotoriousscuttlecliff]

The first episode of the Chibnall era had an overnight audience of 8.2m (10.9m with catch up). The latest episode, the last episode before he bows out with the centennial special, had an overnight audience of 2.2m, a drop of 6m. The ratings are now at the level they were when it was first cancelled in 1989. If RTD wasn't coming back I really do think that the show would've been cancelled after Chibnall and Whittaker left.

#doctor who #dw #unlike most bbc dramas #this one is heavily reliant on sfx #and very costly #and it isn't the massive hit it used to be #it would make the most sense for the bbc to scrap than death in paradise or silent witness #which both still get the sort of ratings dw did at its height #even one of the produces admitted that he thought the show would end with them #and was worried they'd killed it #apparently they had no idea RTD was returning until it was annnounced #and that was after they'd finished filming #the big worry is that if only RTD is willing to take on the show #what happens when he decides to leave again? #does no one want the job? #or is it that no one wanted the job at that time? #having to start your era with the 60th is something that might've scared a lot of writers away