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...

DG I've thought that before about kindred spirits actually

oh yes, we watched that a bit too (cringe) - after a while, it just became awful didn't it. And it was only fun to watch them go on holidays where they hated each other. Didn't want to see people falling in love (bleeurgh).

how old are you Unquietdad?

and The Dukes of Hazard, Magnum PI, The Fall Guy - all those US shows!

actually, thinking about it, there isn't much 'must watch' tv stuff on, is there.

I never used to miss Cupid Stunt .

Either I don't watch enough of the right TV, or there really isn't that much worth watching any more.

I'm nearly 38 - old enough to remember "Blind Date", and not with affection! That was partvof the ITV line-up on a Sat which absolutely wiped the floor with the BBC.

I was 5 when I saw Tom Baker's first ever episode.

Foxinsocks, I remember all the programmes you mention and would sooner vomit copiously than watch any of them again (and that is saying something, as you know). One programme I did used to enjoy in its earliest form (and which I know the children would like now) was Noel Edmond's House Party - yes I know, I will pass you the bucket now! But before Mr Blobby became the star, it was pretty much old fashioned family based entertainment with a few pub games thrown in and I remember finding it quite funny.

On the drama front, a Merlin programme would be good, as would anything based on old tales/tales of heroes, tales of derring-do etc. My children would love it, and if they could get in a few gorgeous actors (and the odd beauty for the men) the adults would be happy too.

One of the things I like best about the latest programming has been having series of 13 episodes like they had in the old days. I hate the way a series these days is often only 3 or 4 episodes, as though our atention span is so short (or the programme is so shoddy) that a longer series can't be contemplated.

Oh and before I go, let me clasp Clary to my bosom! What else have we agreed on then?

clumsymum - I think they are quite responsible. the violence is fantastical, nothing worse than in Roald Dahl or Brothers Grimm, and nothing that could be imitated by children (no use of kitchen knives etc). The Doctor never uses weapons and respects life.

oh yes DG - I'm not sure I enjoyed any of them (though I'm sure my parents did).

I did enjoy some of the BBC dramatisations like Day of the Triffids (though I found it terrifying).

Oh yes, House Party, It's a Knockout - they were very popular, weren't they.

TB was my first Dr Who too. He was brilliant.

Oh Its a Knockout! I used to wet myself waching that, especially the international version. I suppose it isn't pc to say this now, but the international rivalry was something to behold!

Did you see/are you watching BBC4 at the moment, in particular their retrospectives of children's programmes from earlier decades?

I can't stand "Eastenders". If someone had started a "tell me why you don't like EE" thread I'd have said:

Because it's so depressing and the characters all seem so unlikeable. I can't see how it can possibly be entertainment. Also, it gets praised for its gritty "realism" and yet it's not in the least bit realistic - people get jobs round the corner from where they work (including roadsweepers), everyone uses the sodding launderette, the pub is always available at the last minute for wedding receptions, etc. I'd also feel very aggrieved by the way character is subordinated to plot - after investing my emotions in a particular character's life-changing decision I'd feel cheated when that character changes totally the following year and does something they would never do in their "real" life.

On the other hand I could just say "it's shit".

As children my siblings & I loved Knight Rider!

Oh come on! When it comes to wooden acting, Tennant is solid oak. He's only got one expression - that kind of one eyebrow raised 'Look, I'm acting!' thing he does. Rubbish.

p.s. Eastenders is a soap opera. That's all. It doesn't pretend to be 'high drama', like Dr Who.

p.p.s Unquiet dad - soemtimes the word 'shit' sums things up far better than a load of waffle. But if you want waffle, i can waffle for England :-)

No he has at least 2 expressions. The first is the cheeky, "doncha just love me?" expression, and the second is his more intent "now I am going to rip the knickers off you" expression.

Both work for me.

i don't like the show. no other reason really. it's just not for me

"Doctor Who" isn't pretending to be anything other than an escapist adventure series. If people find it "silly" then that's surely part of the point. I think it realises its own silliness and self-references it.

I don't like sci fi. Can't be bothered with plastic monsters and people running around 'scared' of them. Pants

LoveAngel, he gives good eyebrow, though.
He's does manic energy a lot, yes, and he's great with mega-fast and complicated dialogue, but he's awesomely good with angst and bubbling under the surface stuff.

And he licks things, too, and that's always fun.

Never watched it as a child... never watch it now. Dont like Sci-Fi either!

I didn't watch the first few of the first (new) series because it was against Ant & Dec then plus I thought it was really sci-fi. Now though I have an 8yo, 5yo and 2yo who love it not to mention DH, I have grown to love it!

I barely watch TV. I've caught the odd episode of it when Billie Piper was in it and it was good enough. I'd ratehr read a book though, or be on the internet, or I'm at work or writing an assignment. Or dd (6) isn't in bed yet and its too scary for her.

its not my sort of thing. doesnt appeal.

because I live in Sweden

tv never on at 7 on a saturday but if it was it wouldn't be on dr.who

either paramount or discovery at that sort of time i'd imagine...... that's whats on at that time on sunday which is the only day tv is on before los in bed