If you don't watch Doctor Who, tell me why

[UnquietDad]

Everyone knows that, by any measure, "Doctor Who" is doing really well. It's the biggest BBC drama after the soaps and gets, most weeks, around 8 million viewers (including the "time-shifted" ratings for those who have recorded it). In terms of raw ratings this doesn't sound huge, given that it often got 12-13 million in the 60s and 70s, but we live in a fragmented multimedia world and I can understand that, at 7pm on a Saturday some people are plugged onto their Playstations or already largeing it down at their raves with their designer downloaded drugs, or whatever they do these days.

But most people I know - the vast majority of whom are parents of children under 10 - watch it. Just about everyone seems aware it's on. Which rather begs the question not of why 8 million people should choose to watch "Doctor Who" but why 52 million don't?

Let's be charitable and assume that a) 10 million or so are babies and toddlers and so don't have control of the remote, b) another 5 million or so detest "science fiction" (not that it is sci-fi, not really) and would rather pull their own teeth out than ever watch it, and c) about 5 million people don't have access to a telly/assume it rots their brains/ chucked their TV on the skip in 1997 and never looked back. I've no idea if those figures are right, but they don't seem unreasonable...

The next important thing is the audience share - how many people who watched telly were watching a given channel. Anything over 30% is seen as good and over 35% is phenomenal. BBC1 usually gets a 37-39% share when "Doctor Who" is on. So what are the other 60-odd percent doing? Let's assume there really are, as the ratings tell us, 3-4 million ardent Vernon Kay fans in the country who actively tune in for his "Gameshow Marathon" because he is so talented and entertaining. That takes care of about 20%. Where are the rest? I just genuinely can't imagine putting the telly on at 7pm on a Saturday night and choosing to watch a "Two Ronnies" repeat on ITV4, or "Whose Line Is It Anyway" on Five US, or something called "Bridezillas" on some other crappy cable channel, instead of a brand spanking new and wonderful episode of the best thing on the telly.

If you are unmoved by Who, have never watched it, or watched it and gave up with it, or actively hate it - tell me why.

Over to you...

because I live in Australia

It's on there!

oh, ok then
because it's tosh

because everyone is different and has different tastes and about a zillion other channels to chose from?

I watch it so I don't count, but it really really is sci-fi!

personally i think its shit. i have seen better acting on Hollyoaks, the effects are crap, and i am not old enough to have seen the "original". Its just not my 'thing'.

Of course, my opinion is based on the very first episode and a few glimpses here and there. It may have changed now but its dul for me to find out

Because it's on when DD goes to bed so we watch it on BBC3 whenever I spot the repeat or tape it

I know quite a few people who tape it, are they included in the 35% share though?

I have only started watching it again now that my kids want to watch it. I watched it as a child myself and then had a huge break until the last few seasons.

You see, you are coming from the viewpoint that you Love Doctor Who. Personally, I couldn't understand why 52 million people didn't watch Life on Mars because, to me, it was the best thing on TV in years.

Perhaps everyone else is indulging in rampant sex on a Saturday night or going down the pub for a drink before going out - it's not a traditional 'stay in' night like a Monday say.

I would enjoy watching it, but it is the only programme that all 3 of my kids watch and enjoy and are totally absorbed by it.

So I can leave them watching it while I get on with other stuff

and LOADS of people don't do sci-fi

As Suzy says I am in Australia and actually it isn't on on my meagre selection of channels.
However when we are in the Uk I don't watch it for the following 2 reasons

1. I still remember vividly hiding behind a cushion on the sofa whilst supposedly watching Dr Who with my dad. I was scared witless and that together with his decision to read me the Hobbit as a bedtime story for a 6 year old have conspired to give me a huge aversion to anything vaguely sci-fi or fantasy.
2. Whilst dh, dd and ds watch the goggle box, I sit in another room with the Sat paper and a glass of wine and enjoy almost an hour of un-interrupted reading. Joy !!
3. None of the doctors are ever hot totty so it's an eaay sacrifice to make. enough explanation for you??

Ok, well I do watch Dr. Who but only really because DH watches it. I wouldn't say I actively hate it but "unmoved" by it is probably a good way of putting it. If DH sometimes watches it without me I don't bother to save it on the Sky+ and watch it on my own.

I'm not really sure why to be honest. I quite like Sci-Fi - grew up reading Asimov and Heinlein and watching Star Wars and Jean Luc Piccard (which was a GREAT series IMO). And David Tennant is rather cute, but...?

There have been episodes I have really enjoyed - the funnier ones mostly. And episodes I have really NOT liked at all - I walked out in the middle of the wherewolf one last season, but mostly I just get a bit bored with it. Sorry.

AS you can see counting isn't one of my particualr talents..

I watch it actually.

But I would imagine people who don't watch it don't like David Tenant, don't watch drama, don't watch TV at that time of day (we are usually doing bedtime/bathtime; if I had no kids I would be making tea)...

why do you want to know? 17million people watch Corrie, but I don't. Don't really like it. My MIL watches Corrie and Emmerdale but not DR who tho.

Because its shit. In my opinion, of course.

oh yes, big point about the totty factor

if it was someone who gave me the horn I 'd be glued to it

Robinpud I must beg to disagreee with you over "hot totty2 comment tho

Oh, and I don't like the Daleks. Not in a hide-behind-the-sofa-aren't-they-scary kind of way. But in a why do people think they are scary, they're just dumb and annoying kind of way. But that's probably because I didn't grow up with them.

My DSs watch it but I think it's a pile of pants, plus David Tenant doesn't do it for me.

I loathe science fiction of any description.
I don't really do drams anyway but a SF type drma - ohhhh . I thin the acting is rubbish and would rather be reading abook, playing with kids, cooking dinner, anything other than sat watching a load of unbelievable drivel!

it scares ds1 and david tennant gives me the creeps.

Yes, people who tape it are included in the share. They do an initial overnight rating/share and then a final one about a week later.

Suzy- do you get Kevin Hill over in sunny Perth btw? Now he's hot totty for sure!!

clary- which doctor could you possibly classify as hot totty without wearing 3 pairs of beer goggles?

OK, a few responses.

• The effects are crap? REALLY? Are we watching the same programme? I mean, they did wonders with bubble-wrap and swarfega in the 70s, but these days it's all state-of-the-art computer graphic trickery and the like.

• It isn't sci-fi in the way that, say "Star Trek" is. The SF/ fantasy elements are almost incidental; it's an adventure story at heart, with elements of magical realism, self-mockery and camp.

• My DW thinks Christopher Eccleston is hot totty, and plenty of people go for David Tennant!

• in what way is it "shit"? please elaborate.