The overnight ratings for Doctor Who’s season 14 launch episodes Space Babies and The Devil’s Chord have been revealed, as Ncuti Gatwa well and truly takes over the keys to the TARDIS.

Space Babies, the first episode, was watched by 2.6 million viewers, with The Devil’s Chord, the second, having an overnight audience of 2.4 million.

While the overnight figures are close to the lowest ever for the show (with Legend of the Sea Devils only securing an overnight audience of 2.2 million in 2022), it’s not the whole story. It doesn’t include viewers who watched on BBC iPlayer, who will be more significant than ever due to this season being the first to debut early on iPlayer.

Figures are also likely to have been affected by good weather in the UK.

Season 14 of Doctor Who marks many firsts - it’s the first to launch with a double bill, with the first two episodes being available at once, and it’s the first to debut episodes early on iPlayer before airing them on BBC One later that day. It’s also the first season after the BBC’s deal with Disney, meaning episodes are being transmitted globally at the same time for the first time ever.

Gatwa’s first episode, the Christmas special The Church on Ruby Road, was streamed a whopping 10.1 million times on BBC iPlayer, setting a new record according to the BBC.

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Next week will see Steven Moffat’s return with his tense episode Boom!.