Doctor Who finale shake-up as BBC confirm major change amid falling ratings

The Doctor is set to visit the big screen as the second series ends later this month. bosses are also making a big change to the time the show airs globally amid falling ratings.

The finale will feature Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and as Ruby Sunday and is set to take audiences on an exhilarating cosmic journey when it premieres in a primetime evening slot on Saturday 31st May, both on BBC One and BBC , as well as being screened in over 450 cinemas across the UK & Ireland.

Titled The Reality War, the special extra-length episode will bring fans worldwide together to witness the Doctor engaged in one of his most frightening and significant battles to date.

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Viewers in the UK can catch the episode exclusively on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with the precise transmission time to be announced later on, while Disney+ will stream it simultaneously outside the UK where available.

Previously, has enjoyed exclusive early morning releases of new episodes at 8am on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Disney+ internationally. This change to tradition has benefited international fans but seen live ratings drop when episodes air hours later on BBC One.

Showrunner Russell T Davies said of the tweak: "The Doctor is doomed, Belinda is lost, Ruby is trapped, UNIT is powerless, the Unholy Trinity rule supreme and the Underverse is rising. And now we can all experience this devastating climax together, all at the same time, with a unique worldwide premiere. I can promise shocks, scares and revelations off the scale. Come and have fun!"

Doctor Who suffered a huge blow last month when it returned for a second series with Ncuti Gatwa in the famous role. The season two premiere drew in just 2 million viewers at the start of April. Despite the introduction of Varada Sethu as his new companion Belinda Chandra, the iconic sci-fi show couldn't outshine the Gladiators final, which captivated 2.9 million viewers.

TV Zone reported at the time that the competition from Gladiators wasn't the only challenge for Doctor Who; fans pointed out that the show's availability on BBC iPlayer earlier in the day may have contributed to the lower TV audience.

One fan commented, "This doesn't bother me because SO many people will have watched it on BBC iPlayer earlier in the day. Those ratings will be the important ones I think." Another viewer mentioned, "As its on iplayer from the morning I guess ppl watch on there."

The debate over how to accurately measure the show's success continues, with one person noting, "Considering it is a joint iPlayer/BBC One release, it makes reporting the overnight figures a bit one-sided, with the 7-day/28-day release that adds iPlayer not getting that much publicity."

However, this isn't the first time Doctor Who has faced rating challenges; last year, it was reported that the entire 14th series averaged 2 million overnight views per episode.

A BBC spokesperson previously made clear to The Times that overnight TV ratings are no longer a solid gauge for a show's success, explaining: "Overnight ratings no longer provide an accurate picture of all those who watch drama in an on-demand ."

They elaborated further, noting the early release and success of Doctor Who online: "This season of Doctor Who premiered on iPlayer nearly 24 hours before broadcast, and episode one has already been viewed by nearly six million viewers and continues to grow."

The spokesperson also highlighted the show's digital clout: "Doctor Who remains one of the most watched programmes on iPlayer and is the BBC's top drama for under-35s this year, making it one of the biggest programmes for the demographic across all streamers and broadcasters,".

Russell T. Davies, the show's chief writer, chimed in with his interview in the Radio Times, expressing pride in the recent season but acknowledging the longing for higher ratings: "I'm very proud of [the season thus far]! You know, they might not be the ratings we'd love. ".

He pointed out audience growth over time: "We always want higher. But they are building over the 28-day period. Episode 1, Space Babies, is already up to 5.6 million and counting. So it is getting there."

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