The final consolidated UK viewing figure for DOCTOR WHO - THE MAGICAN'S APPRENTICE has increased the initial 4.58 million by 1.96 million to a final 6.54 million UK viewers (not including any viewers who watched the BBC 3 repeat on the following Friday evening.

This became the fourth most popular BBC ONE programme of that week, with THE GREAT BRITAIN BAKE OFF rising to 12.35 million UK viewers, and the Capaldi epsiode being 8th most watched programme across the audited UK channels.

Episode One beat two episodes of ITV's long-running 'soap' CORONATION STREET, and even a Sunday evening THE X FACTOR results show.

DOCTOR WHO - THE WITCH'S FAMILIAR has suffered a disastrous lost in viewers according to 'overnighter' viewing figures.

Only 16.6% of the available TV audience choose the second episode of SERIES 9 which basically meant that only 3.7 million watch it.

Oh.

This is the first time that any NEW SERIES episode, according to 'overnights', has fallen below 4 million viewers.

Oh.

BBC ONE has lost viewers on Saturday nights with only STRICTLY COME DANCING (lost out to ITV's Rugby match between England and Wales) and CASUALTY beating DOCTOR WHO into third place.

Oh.

Is DOCTOR WHO heading toward the same fate as ROBIN OF SHERWOOD, MERLIN and ATLANTIS?

The first two episodes of SERIES 9 will be repeated on BBC ONE on Sunday 27 September from 15:15 to 16:45.

The combing of episodes is not a new implementation but this is - we think - the first time it has been considered for the NEW SERIES (as opposed to the CLASSIC SERIES).

The reasoning behind the 'edit' of THE MAGICAN'S APPRENTICE and THE WITCH'S FAMILIAR could be based upon the fact that ITV will be showing a RUGBY WORLDCUP match featuring England (against Wales) and viewers will desert DOCTOR WHO.

DOCTOR WHO - THE WITCH'S FAMILIAR is broadcast at 19:45 on BBC ONE.

DOCTOR WHO - THE MAGICAN'S APPRENTICE may have gained more positive reviews (from 'industry commentators' & journalists) than negative ones, it seems that, initially, UK viewers may have lost its taste for Saturday evening sci-fi drama as 4.58 million viewers watched. It was the most watched programme on BBC ONE across the schedule that day.

That represented 21.2% of the available TV audience. This per cent is low when compared to the previous eight series 'openers'.

For consolidated figures, Capaldi's series eight opener achieved 6.79, whilst Matt Smith's first episode, THE ELEVENTH HOUR, was watched by 7.66.

Of course, this is an estimated figure (known as 'overnights') and is expected to increase as 'watch on-demand' viewers are audited.

However, on BBC AMERICA it aired to an impressive 2 million USA viewers, and nearly 700,000 viewers on ABC across Australia's major five cities.

The official DOCTOR WHO SERIES 9 website has confirmed the final episode titles, and a fascinating read it is too.

1. THE MAGICAN'S APPRENTICE
2. THE WITCH'S FAMILIAR
3. UNDER THE LAKE
4. BEFORE THE FLOOD
5. THE GIRL WHO DIE
6. THE WOMAN WHO LIVED
7. THE ZYGON INVASION
8. THE ZYGON INVERSION
9. SLEEP NO MORE
10. FACE THE RAVEN
11. HEAVENN SENT
12. HELL BENT

SERIES 9 is launched on 19 September 2015 at 19:40.

Cover price £4.99 or read it standing up in your local newsagents for free.

Published on 17 September - Cover dated November 2015.