The BBC have released new pictures taken from the upcoming episode of Doctor Who - Smile. The episode premieres on BBC One this Saturday at 7.20pm, followed by transmission around the world. Full details here

Doctor Who - The Pilot had an Audience Appreciation or Ai figure of 83

The Appreciation Index in an indication of how much viewers enjoyed the episode. It is based to the reactions of a selected panel of viewers, who rate the episode shortly after transmission.

83 is considered a good score, roughly similar to the scores achieved by the last series of the show,

The highest score for the evening was shared by Dad's Army on BBC Two and the film The Imitation Game on Channel 4, both of which scored 87.

The Pilot has debuted in Australia, averaging 495,000 viewers in the five major capital cities. The story was the second highest rating ABC drama of the day and the eighth highest rating program of the day overall. These ratings do not include iview, regional or time-shifted viewers.

Doctor Who - The Pilot had an overnight viewing figure of 4.64 million viewers, a share of 24.8% of the total TV audience, according to unofficial viewing figures.

Saturday's top show was Britain's Got Talent on ITV which had 8.65 million watching.

Doctor Who was BBC One's second highest rated show for the evening, just behind All Round to Mrs Brown's which had 4.67 million. It just beat Pointless Celebrities which had 4.34 million watching. Casualty had 3.48 million.

Final figures, including those who timeshift, will be released next Monday, which should see Doctor Who substantially increase its audience.

The new series of Doctor Who hit UK screens last night, but what did the media make of the latest adventure for the Doctor, and of his new fresh-faced companion?

The Telegraph's Ben Lawrence was pleased with the pairing: "their relationship, on the basis of this sensitively written episode, looks set to be the best since Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler and David Tennant’s Doctor flirted through time and space over a decade ago.". Clair Woodward in the Express had similar thoughts: "showrunner and writer Stephen Moffatt has pulled off what many thought was an impossible feat by bringing some much-needed humanity back to the series, a great deal of which comes from new female companion Bill Potts, played by Pearl Mackie, who has a really lovely chemistry with Peter Capaldi’s Doctor. I can’t remember the old sod smiling so much." Colleague Neela Debnath for the Sunday Express added: "newcomer Pearl feels totally natural in the role and is a strong fit for Doctor Who, with elements of Eighties companion Ace (Sophie Aldred), thanks to those patches on her coat but also her intelligence. You get the sense that she might have a science background like Ace’s extensive knowledge of chemistry, although there is nothing to prove it - and she is simply working in the university canteen.".

Of course there's always those who don't take to the show so easily. The Mail on Sunday chose to focus on Bill's sexuality, citing feminist campaigner Julie Bindel's thoughts: "This is something that is clearly done for the benefit of those who just think of it as girl-on-girl titillation. I don’t want to have representations of lesbians which is all about sexism, double entendres and sexualised behaviour. It’s just taking two women and using the blueprint of sexist heterosexuality."

Daniel Jackson in the Mirror noted: "it’s quite telling that the director pulled focus to a photo of The Doctor’s granddaughter during her introduction - it reaffirms how Moffat sees the new coupling.". Patrick Mulkern from the Radio Times added: "Susan has barely been mentioned since her departure in 1964. Carole Ann Ford reprised the role in The Five Doctors (1983), we saw a blur of Susan fleeing Gallifrey in The Name of the Doctor (2013), and of course Susan was An Unearthly Child, the focus of the original “Pilot Episode” in 1963. For now, I’m not reading too much into this sudden reminder of her existence."

Summing up the feel of the episode as a whole, Patrick continued: "The Pilot has a lovely visual flair and is given an energetic snap from director Lawrence Gough. The effects of the menacing puddle and the watery transformations are expertly handled. But there’s a simple pleasure to be had in the presentation of our old friend, the Tardis. Never has it looked more stunning than in the gradual zoom-out from Bill at the police box doors as the lights and mechanisms flicker to life.. Jeff Robson of the i commented: "Bill was totally hooked – and, with reservations, so was I. It was amazing that in a set-up seen quite a few times before Moffat, director Lawrence Gough and the two leads still managed to serve up plentiful helpings of sharp dialogue and pulse-racing moments. Mackie could well be the breath of fresh air the series needs. She’s more down to earth than Jenna Coleman’s Clara, but believably gobsmacked by it all too."

With the story overall, Ben commented: "this episode may not have pushed all the buttons, but it was a reminder of how good Doctor Who can be when it tugs at the heartstrings, and moves from pyrotechnics into a more thoughtful, psychologically ambitious orbit.". Clair's thoughts: "This first episode brought Doctor Who’s humanity back, after a long, chilly spell. “What are any of us looking for? We’re looking for someone who’s looking for us,” said the Doctor about Bill’s crush on Heather, but it obviously applied to the way he felt about his new companion as well. I think viewers will find the new partnership equally loveable, and plotlines more understandable." Dan Martin of the Guardian observes: "it’s ironic and impressive, for a showrunner who gets criticised for reusing ideas, that Steven Moffat has delivered one of his freshest openers for his final run. It would indeed be a good place to join the show. In fact, I might start my little nephew off right here." Daniel noted: "more importantly, this episode nails the mellowing of the 12th Doctor. Perhaps his 50-year stint on Earth has done him good? Capaldi’s Doctor is certainly showing his more caring side."


Additional views and reviews of The Pilot can be found at: Belfast Telegraph, The Sun, Daily Mail, Mirror, Metro, Digital Spy, Wales Online, TV.com, The Quietus, Vox, A.V. Club, Screener.

It's time for our traditional "predict the ratings" competition, where we invite readers to guess how well the latest premiere of Doctor Who will fare with UK television viewers.

This year's prize will be a set of three new 12th Doctor Novels which tie into the new series, Diamond Dogs, Plague City and The Shining Man released this month by BBC Books. In order to be in with a chance to win the set, simply send us an email to comp-ratings@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Rate that Pilot" and the following details:

• Your name and preferred email address
• Your country of entry (full details will be requested only if you are the winner)
• Your guess at the final viewing figure of The Pilot to the nearest 10,000 (eg.9.99m)
• Your guess at its initial overnight figure - this will only be used in the event of a tie-break

Terms and Conditions:

• The competition closes at 06:30 GMT, 16th April 2017
• Only one entry will be accepted per person.
• The competition is open worldwide.
• Figures that aren't complete will be rounded down (i.e. 9.9m will be considered as 9.90m)
• BARB final figures are expected a couple of weeks later; we will contact the winner once they have been published.

The BBC have released a host of publicity images relating to this week's premiere, The Pilot:


There are also a number of new profile images, featuring Peter Capaldi as the Doctor, Stephanie Hyam as Heather, Jennifer Hennessy as Moira, Pearl Mackie as Bill and Matt Lucas as Nardole:



With the time on BBC One now confirmed as 7:20pm, BBC First in the Middle East have adjusted the time of their broadcast so that the episode will be simulcast with UK transmission! In addition, YLE2 has now scheduled the episode for Sunday morning, meaning that viewers in Finland will also get to see The Pilot within 24 hours of those in the UK.

The Pilot: Known Broadcast Details
United Kingdom	BBC One	Sat 15 Apr 2017	7:20pm BST
Middle East	BBC First	Sat 15 Apr 2017	9:20pm AST	(Sat 7:20pm BST)
United States of America	BBC America	Sat 15 Apr 2017	9:00pm EDT	(Sun 2:00am BST)
Canada	SPACE	Sat 15 Apr 2017	9:00pm EDT	(Sun 2:00am BST)
Finland	YLE2	Sun 16 Apr 2017	11:00am EEST	(Sun 9:00am BST)
Australia	ABC	Sun 16 Apr 2017	7:40pm AEST	(Sun 10:40am BST, also on ABC ME)
Brazil	SyFy	Sun 16 Apr 2017	8:00pm BRT	(Sun 11:00pm BST)
Latin America	SyFy	Sun 16 Apr 2017	11:00pm CDT	(Mon 4:00am BST)
New Zealand	PRIME	Mon 17 Apr 2017	7:30pm NZST	(Mon 8:30am BST)

Recenty launched online streaming service Britbox has added the majority of existing 20th Century Doctor Who to its collection. The service, co-operated by BBC Worldwide and ITV, provides subscription-based video-on-demand (SVOD) to the United States of America, and features a range of programmes - both old and new - from British Television to stream on a variety of devices.

Soumya Sriraman, President of BritBox said:

Subscribers will be able to watch most of the existing stories between 1963-1989 (including The Web Of Fear with its reconstruction of episode three):
Notable omissions to the collection include several Dalek stories, and The Five Doctors; however, a number of DVD extras are available to watch, not to mention items such as K9 & Company and 50th Anniversary productions An Adventure In Space And Time and The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot. It should be noted that programmes are based on the remastered Region 1 versions which are occasionally different to the original broadcast episodes.

The service is expected to expand to include missing episodes too in the future, and will include the (narrated) audio soundtracks of those episodes that don't currently exist in the BBC Archive.


"Modern" Doctor Who is available to stream in the United States via Amazon Prime Video.

The BBC have issued a press release relating to the return of the Master in the new series of Doctor Who:

The BBC have released some new promotional images to accompany the 30 second trailer that is now airing on television in the UK, featuring some of the scenes to come in the new series of Doctor Who which kicks off in ten days time.


PRIME in New Zealand have now confirmed that, unlike for recent series and specials, it will instead premiere The Pilot on Monday 17th April rather than within a day of the United Kingdom - this means that cinema-goers in the country will have a chance to watch it on the big screen the day before broadcast. However, this is only the case for Easter, future episodes will be broadcast on the more traditional Sunday evening prime time slot.

The Pilot: Known Broadcast Details
United Kingdom	BBC One	Sat 15 Apr 2017	7:20pm BST
Middle East	BBC First	Sat 15 Apr 2017	10:00pm AST	(Sat 8:00pm BST)
United States of America	BBC America	Sat 15 Apr 2017	9:00pm EDT	(Sun 2:00am BST)
Canada	SPACE	Sat 15 Apr 2017	9:00pm EDT	(Sun 2:00am BST)
Australia	ABC	Sun 16 Apr 2017	7:40pm AEST	(Sun 10:40am BST, also on ABC ME)
Brazil	SyFy	Sun 16 Apr 2017	8:00pm BRT	(Sun 11:00pm BST)
Latin America	SyFy	Sun 16 Apr 2017	11:00pm CDT	(Mon 4:00am BST)
New Zealand	PRIME	Mon 17 Apr 2017	7:30pm NZST	(Mon 8:30am BST)

As well as on television, the episode can also be seen in cinemas in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. A full list of broadcasts can be found via This Week in Doctor Who.

Current indications are that Doctor Who won't be taking a week's break for the annual Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place this year on 13th May (the date for the fifth episode, Oxygen).

The latest Doctor Who Magazine (in shops tomorrow in the UK) has confirmed the titles of all episodes bar the two-part finale, with previews of the first three in this issue. The current list of known titles are as follows:

1. The Pilot*, by Steven Moffat, directed by Lawrence Gough
2. Smile, by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, directed by Lawrence Gough
3. Thin Ice, by Sarah Dollard, directed by Bill Anderson
4. Knock Knock, by Mike Bartlett, directed by Bill Anderson
5. Oxygen, by Jamie Matheson, directed by Charles Palmer
6. Extremis, by Steven Moffat, directed by Daniel Nettheim
7. The Pyramid at the End of the World, by Peter Harness, directed by Daniel Nettheim
8. The Lie Of The Land, by Toby Whithouse, directed by Wayne Che Yip
9. The Empress Of Mars, by Mark Gatiss, directed by Wayne Che Yip
10. The Eaters of Light, by Rona Munro, directed by Charles Palmer
11. tbc, by Steven Moffat, directed by Rachel Talalay
12. tbc, by Steven Moffat, directed by Rachel Talalay

* the episode was originally known as A Star In Her Eye, which is still being used in documentation by some international channels.