The BBC’s Annual Report, published today, has praised the continued success of Doctor Who.
In his introduction Mark Thompson, BBC Director-General – pictured left with Zarin Patel (BBC Finance director) and Michael Grade (BBC Chairman) – says 2005-2006 was the “strongest year for BBC television drama in more than a decade, which included To The Ends of The Earth, Bodies, Life on Mars, ShakespeaRe-Told, and Dr Who with a brilliant new Doctor.”
The main report says Doctor Who stands out as one of three shows which “helped BBC One maintain its clear lead among all UK channels as the ‘channel best for drama'” over the past 12 months.
The report says the show has “has continued to delight early evening family audiences on Saturdays” and described it as “a reinvention of real wit and flair”.
“The potentially problematic departure of Christopher Eccleston from the title role was seized as an opportunity and David Tennant was in place in time to provide a successful Christmas special before starting a new series in 2006/2007.
Dr Who’s television output is extended by a rich website and there have been imaginative experiments with interactive elements � the Christmas special was supported by a specially written interactive adventure accessed via the red button.
The audience for this approached half a million. In our consultations with viewers and listeners, they often cite programmes such as Dr Who as good BBC family entertainment.”
Elsewhere the report says “A number of new landmark programmes (Bleak House, Doctor Who and Life on Mars) has driven a 4.1% increase in the analogue cost per hour of drama.”
The section covering BBC Cymru Wales described the show (with others) as one of the “highpoints of BBC One”.
The full report can be downloaded from the BBC website.
