Jodie Whittaker's Doctor Who draws more young, female viewers than ever
It's been a long time coming, but the first female Doctor Who has proven a hit with television audiences – especially girls under 16.
Not only was Jodie Whittaker's maiden voyage as the Doctor better viewed than those of her male predecessors, but it also managed to change the viewing demographic. More girls under the age of 16 watched Doctor Who than boys, a considerable turnaround in the show's viewing history.
According to BARB (Broadcasting Audience Research Board) figures shared by Broadcast web editor Robin Parker, 378,000 girls watched on Sunday night to 339,000. Last year, 390,000 boys tuned in to the series opener but only 143,000 joined them.
Whittaker's debut as the Time Lord attracted more viewers than Matt Smith or David Tennant's first appearances. Sunday's episode, which was the first of the new series, enjoyed an average 8.2 million viewers.
By contrast, Matt Smith and David Tennant’s debut viewing figures were 7.7 million and 8 million respectively. As Peter Capaldi, whose first series as the Time Lord began in 2014, drew 6.8 million viewers for his debut.
The figures will please Whittaker, who spoke about the importance of inclusivity on screen at New York Comic Con on Sunday: "When I was growing up, there was never a question that as a girl you would look up to guys. That's what you did.
"Whereas there's a slight mythology in the sense if you're a girl, you're a hero for a girl, which is not the case," she said. "And so, I think the wonderful thing about this is being a role model for anyone, which the Doctor has always been regardless of gender."
