Russell T Davies’ Latest ‘Doctor Who’ Run Breaks Yet Another Negative Record, Posts Worst Overnight Season Finale Ratings In Franchise History

Spencer Baculi |

Jun 24, 2024

Ruby (Millie Gibson), The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa), and Mel (Bonnie Langford) prepare to confront Sutkeh (Gabriel Woolf) in Doctor Who Series 14 Episode 8 “Empire of Death” (2024), BBC

In adding to the list of poor-ratings-related accolades earned by the showrunner’s latest take on the series, Russell T Davies’ latest Doctor Who run has closed out its airtime by posting the worst overnight ratings for a season finale in the franchise’s entire history.

The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) discovers Sutkeh (Gabriel Woolf) has already begun wiping out life across the universe in Doctor Who Series 14 Episode 8 “Empire of Death” (2024), BBC

Airing on June 22nd and picking up immediately from the end of the last episode, the plot of Empire of Death saw The Doctor and his companion Ruby Sunday not only putting a final stop to long-time series antagonist Sutekh, but also uncovering the season-long mystery regarding the latter’s parentage.

Ruby (Millie Gibson) tricks Sutkeh (Gabriel Woolf) into believing she will hand over the identity of her birth parents in Doctor Who Series 14 Episode 8 “Empire of Death” (2024), BBC

Per numbers reported by UK entertainment news outlet Radio Times, the season finale managed to draw in a total overnight viewership of 2.25 million – the third best of the season behind season opener Space Babies (2.6 million) and the mid-season episode 73 Yards (2.62 million).

Unfortunately for Davies, the BBC, and current series worldwide distributor Disney, despite Empire of Death being one of the season’s top overnight ratings performers, it also represents yet another low point for the franchise overall.

The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) breaks his vow of non-pacifism in order to stop Sutkeh (Gabriel Woolf) in Doctor Who Series 14 Episode 8 “Empire of Death” (2024), BBC

According to numbers aggregated from the official Doctor Who fan wiki, Wikipedia proper, and the aforementioned Radio Times, the season finale is the worst performing in the series entire 61-year history, coming in a full 1.3 million under previous record holder The Vanquishers (otherwise known as the last season finale to feature Jodie Whitaker’s 13th Doctor):

[Editor’s Note: In its original format, Doctor Who‘s ‘season finales’ would be told across multiple parts, each comprising a full episode of their own. To this end and out of a desire for full transparency, the following numbers for the original run of Doctor Who will list both the overall overnight ratings for each season’s final story as well as the individual ratings for the actual final episodes.

Further, while all above sources have failed to specify whether the original format numbers are overnight versus seven-day consolidated, given the nature of historical television ratings reports (a lack of streaming options and guaranteed re-runs throughout the week made live numbers the most important metric), they can at least be reliably used as a general indicator of each episode’s respective overnight success.]

Susan Triad (Susan Twist) orders the death of The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) in Doctor Who Series 14 Episode 8 “Empire of Death” (2024), BBC

Series 1 (1963) – The Reign Of Terror – An average of 6.7 million viewers across the serial’s six parts, with its final part specifically pulling in 6.4 million.
Series 2 (1965) – The Time Meddler – Avg. 8.3 million across four parts / 8.3 million specific to final part.
Series 3 (1966) – The War Machines – Avg. 5.2 million across four parts / 5.5 million specific to final part.
Series 4 (1966) – The Evil of the Daleks – Avg. 6.4 million across seven parts / 6.1 million specific to final part.
Series 5 (1968) – The Wheel in Space – Avg. 7.2 million across six parts / 6.5 million specific to final part.
Series 6 (1969) – The War Games – Avg. 4.94 across ten parts / 5.0 million specific to final part.
Series 7 (1970) – Inferno – Avg 5.5 million across seven parts / 5.5 million specific to final part.
Series 8 (1971) – The Dæmons – Avg. 8.3 million across five parts / 8.3 million specific to final part.
Series 9 (1972) – The Time Monster – Avg. 7.33 million across six parts / 7.6 million specific to final part.
Series 10 (1973) – The Green Death – Avg 7.71 million across six parts / 7.0 million specific to final part.
Series 11 (1974) – Planet of the Spiders – Avg. 9.01 million across six parts / 8.9 million specific to final part.
Series 12 (1975) – Revenge of the Cybermen – Avg. 9 million across four parts / 9.4 million specific to final part.
Series 13 (1976) – The Seeds of Doom – Avg. 10.9 million across six parts / 11.5 million specific to final part.
Series 14 (1977) – The Talons of Weng-Chiang – Avg. 10.35 million across six parts / 9.3 million specific to final part.
Series 15 (1978) – The Invasion of Time – Avg. 10.51 million across six parts / 9.8 million specific to final part.
Series 16 (1979) – The Armageddon Factor – Avg 8.48 million across six parts / 9.6 million specific to final part.
Series 17 (1980) – The Horns of Nimon – Avg. 8.75 million across four parts / 10.4 million specific to final part.
Series 18 (1981) – Logopolis – Avg. 6.675 million across four parts / 6.1 million specific to final part.
Series 19 (1982) – Time-Flight – Avg. 9 million across four parts / 8.3 million specific to final part.
Series 20 (1983) – The King’s Demons – Avg. 6.5 million across two parts / 7.2 million specific to final part.
Series 21 (1984) – The Twin Dilemma – Avg. 7.07 million across four parts / 6.3 million specific to final part.
Series 22 (1985) – Revelation of the Daleks – Avg. 7.55 million across four parts / 7.7 million specific to final part.
Series 23 (1986) – The Ultimate Foe – Avg. 5 million across two parts / 5.6 million specific to final part.
Series 24 (1987) – Dragonfire – Avg. 5 million across three parts / 4.7 million specific to final part.
Series 25 (1988) – The Greatest Show in the Galaxy – Avg. 5.4 million across four parts / 6.6 million specific to final part.
Series 26 (1989) – Survival – Avg. 4.9 million across three parts / 5 million specific to final part.

The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) realizes how to defeat Sutkeh (Gabriel Woolf) once and for all in Doctor Who Series 14 Episode 8 “Empire of Death” (2024), BBC

Return Series 1 (2005) – The Parting of Ways – 6.2 million
Return Series 2 (2006) – Doomsday – 7.7 million
Return Series 3 (2007) – Last of the Time Lords – 8 million
Return Series 4 (2008) – Journey’s End – 10.57 million
Return Series 5 (2010) – The Big Bang – 5.09 million
Return Series 6 (2011) – The Wedding of River Song – 6.1 million
Return Series 7 (2013) – The Name of the Doctor – 5.46 million
Return Series 8 (2014) – Death in Heaven – 5.45 million
Return Series 9 (2015) – Hell Bent – 4.8 million
Return Series 10 (2017) – The Doctor Falls – 3.75 million
Return Series 11 (2018) – The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos -5.32 million
Return Series 12 (2020) – The Timeless Children – 3.78 million
Return Series 13 (2021) – The Vanquishers – 3.58 million
Return Series 14 (2024) – Empire of Death – 2.25 million

The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) takes Ruby (Millie Gibson) home in Doctor Who Series 14 Episode 8 “Empire of Death” (2024), BBC

As noted above, the series’ new title of ‘Worst Performing Season Finale in Franchise History’ is but the latest negative record set by the 15th Doctor’s first proper outing.

First, the season’s third episode, Boom managed to break the record for ‘Worst Overnight Episode Numbers in Franchise History’ with a grand overnight viewership total of just 2.04 million.

This record would be broken again just four weeks later by episode seven, The Legend of Ruby Sunday, which managed to undercut its predecessor by roughly 20K, for an abysmal total of 2.02 million.