December 21st
Episode 1 of The Daleks, entitled The Dead Planet was broadcast on this day in 1963. 6.9 million viewers tuned in to catch Barbara cornered by a man waving a sink plunger (the actual Dalek prop wasn't ready for this episode), and within a couple of weeks Dalekmania would sweep the country essentially sealing Doctor Who's future.We took a look back at this most important story here.
In 1968 The Invasion was coming to an end. Episode 8 was watched by 7 million viewers. You can find our look back at The Invasion here. Fast forward twenty years and five Doctors and we have 5.3 million tuning on to part two of The Greatest Show in the Galaxy.
December 22nd
Back to the 70s for two classic adventures. Part 2 of The Time Warrior was broadcast in 1973, and six years later The Horns Of Nimon got underway. The Third Doctor story was watched by 7 million viewers, exactly 1 million more viewers than his successors had.
December 23rd
Rediscovered in 2013, the Second Doctor adventure The Enemy of the World began on this day in 1967. Episode 1 was watched by 6.80 million viewers. We took a look at the DVD release here. Also beginning on this day was The Power of Kroll. In 1978 6.5 million people tuned in to this Fourth Doctor story.
December 24th
A Christmas Eve treat was awaiting the 6.8 million viewers who were tuned in to BBC One at 5.50pm on this day in 1966. Little did they know, but they would be the only people in the UK to watch episode 2 of The Highlanders, as sadly this and the other 3 parts of the story are all missing, presumed wiped. Our retrospective can be found here.
December 25th
To date 10 episodes of Doctor Who have been broadcast on Christmas Day. Let's count them down from 10 to 1 in ascending order of the most amount of viewers. Feel free to cue up the Pick Of The Pops music, and let the countdown begin...
Greetings Who lovers. It's your Doctor Who top 10 for Christmas Day, and in at number 10 it's the First Doctor, the original if you will. He's enjoying The Feast Of Steven which is all part of The Daleks' Master Plan. Not only was it the very first Doctor Who episode to be broadcast on Christmas Day, but there wouldn't be another for 40 years. Crikey! 1965 was the date and 7.9 million groovy viewers tuned in. Alright pop-pickers? Stick around...
Moving on to 9, and it's 2006 all of a sudden. Look it's the The Runaway Bride. Who's she running from? Not David Tennant that's for sure, and not the 9.3 million lovely viewers. Nice...
In at 8, look out for those Santa's - it's The Christmas Invasion. The numbers that matter are 2005 and 9.84 million viewers. Not 'arf!
With a leap to 2012, we're walking in the air with 9.87 million others. Wrap up warm because your 7th placed Festive Who offering comes in the form of The Snowmen. And we're on to 6...
I don't know about you pop-pickers but it's not my cup of tea, still 10.77 million of you joined The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe back in 2011. I blame the Christmas sherry myself! Alright?
He was only a young whippersnapper when he got the part, but by Christmas Day 2013 Matt Smith's swansong, The Time of the Doctor, had 11.14 million of you beautiful viewers hooked on Trenzalore and dancing like a drunk giraffe. Putting this episode into 5th place in our Doctor Who Christmas Day top 10. Smashing...
The Master eats a cheeseburger? What no turkey sandwiches? This Christmas day treat in 2009 was watched by 12.04 million of the nation's finest. What was it I hear you cry? Why it was The End of Time: Part One of course, and it sits in fourth position. But now it's your all important top 3, stay bright...
In in at 3 it's A Christmas Carol. I once knew a girl called Carol pop-pickers, sad story there but best save it for another day. Maybe she was one of the 12.11 million who tuned in to Aunty Beeb in 2010. I wouldn't know as she doesn't return my calls anymore. Moving on...
Now it's your runner up. Taking the second place in our top 10 it's the lovely David Tennant, with a little help from my old pal David Morrissey as The Next Doctor, except of course he wasn't. A staggering 13.1 million tuned in at 6:00pm back in 2008. A good effort but it wasn't enough to topple the previous years episode. Stay tuned for that all important number 1...
All aboard. Tickets please. Top of the pops is the one with the Queen of Pop. The antipodean songstress, tiny Kylie Minogue was taking a trip on the Voyage of the Damned, Christmas Day 2007. Her ticket was stamped by 13.31 million people...and that's not some kind of euphemism by the way.
And that's your Doctor Who Christmas Day top 10 countdown. Stick around because if it was 2008 and you pressed the red button then Attack of the Graske was available for your viewing pleasure. Not 'arf... but half a million people did just that. Alright? Happy Christmas pop-pickers. Have a great one!
December 26th
OK, back to normal.
Boxing Day 1964 saw the final episode of The Dalek Invasion of Earth, entitled Flashpoint, broadcast at 5:58pm. 12.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the First Doctor bid adieu to his Granddaughter, as Susan became the first member of the original cast to leave the series. We paid tribute to Susan, and the actress that portrayed her Carole Ann Ford, here.
And that's your lot for this week. Did you watch any of these adventures live? We'd love to hear your memories about any of them. Tell us in the comments below.
Until next Sunday...
