BBC Says Current Ratings for 'Doctor Who' Reflect a Younger Audience

After rumors have been swirling that "Doctor Who" isn't performing as well as previous seasons, with out actor Ncuti Gatwa at the helm as The Doctor, the BBC has come out with a poignant point about what Gatwa brings to the Whoniverse.

As we previously reported, Gatwa is the first Black man and the first person born outside the United Kingdom to play the titular character, which was previously played by Jodie Whittaker, Peter Capaldi, "House of Dragon" star Matt Smith, David Tennant, and many more.

Gatwa has also helped usher in lots of queer representation as the character, featuring guest stars such as Jonathan Goff and "RuPaul's Drag Race" legend Jinkx Monsoon, and given the character some much-needed swagger and sex appeal –– at least, according to actor, "Doctor Who" fan, and guest star Neil Patrick Harris.

However, covering so much new ground with the show is seemingly not without its hardships, as longtime fans have accused the series of going woke. And it wasn't long after the show's premiere before claims surfaced that the show was underperforming.

Gatwa spoke openly and honestly about the double standards faced by Black actors against "white mediocrity" And now BBC has added further context, explaining how the show's changing ratings reflect modern viewership habits.

In an interview with the Times, A BBC spokesperson shared that "overnight ratings no longer provide an accurate picture of all those who watch drama in an on-demand world."

It's all about streaming these days. In fact, this season is the first to be produced in collaboration with Disney Branded Television. As a result, the show now comes in the UK at midnight on Saturday so they can line up with the Disney+ streaming schedule.

"This season of 'Doctor Who' premiered on iPlayer nearly 24 hours before broadcast, and episode 1 has already been viewed by nearly 6 million viewers and continues to grow," added the Disney spokesperson about the show's ratings. "'Doctor Who' remains one of the most-watched programs on iPlayer and is the BBC's top drama for under-35s this year, making it one of the biggest programs for the demographic across all streamers and broadcasters."

Moreover, though "Doctor Who" showrunner Russell T. Davies said the series was "not doing that well" when it came to live audiences, "it is doing phenomenally well with the younger audience that we wanted."

Sounds like Gatwa's spin on The Doctor has the potential to bring in a whole new fan base for the show, especially with spin-offs of the show in "active development," reports BBC.

What do you think of Gatwa as The Doctor? The show airs on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere.