Doctor Who's much-hyped New Year's special is reportedly set to be the lowest-rated episode of the show since it returned with new Doctor, Jodie Whittaker.
The series - which returned on October 7 2018 for its 11th [reboot] season - concluded on December 9, with a consolidated audience figure of 6.65 million; but the January 1 special, which saw the infamous Daleks return to the show, haemorrhaged a massive 1.5 million viewers in the overnights.
Estimated overnight figures - which do not take into account those watching on catch-up - report that the tally of viewers was 5.15 million on New Year's Day, according to doctorwhonews.
Doctor decline: Doctor Who's much-hyped New Year's special is reportedly the lowest-rated episode of the show since it returned with new Doctor, Jodie Whittaker
Comparing both episodes original overnight figures, the December season finale drew 5.3 million fans, while New Year's Day came in at 5.15 million - suggesting the consolidated calculations will show a decline as well.
Despite the newest episode producing 'a share of 22.4 percent of the total TV audience' thus 'making Doctor Who the fourth highest-rated programme for New Year's Day' it rounds of a season of the BBC sci-fi show that has lost viewers week-after-week.
The first episode in October drew in a healthy 10.96 million [consolidated], but by episode two it was down to 9 million.
With each episode, another chunk of audience, usually around 500k, was lost; although there was a slight peak for the season finale when the ninth episode drew in 6.42 million the week before and bettered this with 6.65 million the following week.
![Extermi-rate! The series concluded on December 9, with an audience of 6.65 million; but the January 1 special, which saw the infamous Daleks [pictured] return to the show, haemorrhaged a massive 1.5 million viewers](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/01/02/15/8050520-6547721-image-m-57_1546441564616.jpg)
Extermi-rate! The series concluded on December 9, with an audience of 6.65 million; but the January 1 special, which saw the infamous Daleks [pictured] return to the show, haemorrhaged a massive 1.5 million viewers
But the drop has been considerable for New Year's Day's 'Resolution', which is the only Doctor Who episode scheduled for 2019.
MailOnline has approached the BBC for comment.
The show was beaten by BBC One Drama Luther which drew 5.63 million viewers.
Coronation Street had 5.39 million watching, while Emmerdale had 5.17 million, both pipping the Time Lord to the post for a place in the top three shows of the night.
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