Did you watch the new Doctor Who?

No.

I did see it.

Matt Smith doesn't beat David Tennant, and at times he's like an energetic school boy, but he is still quite good. I found some moments difficult to follow in the pilot and it doesn't have quite the dramatic flair of the last series, but I’ll hold more judgement until I’ve seen more episodes. It kept my interest all the way through to the end.

I do not like the new introduction and theme music though.

I have to admit, I was concerned about Matt Smith as The Doctor. But he nailed it. I thoroughly enjoyed 11th Hour and was astonished that an hour had passed when it came to an end. I didn't like the opening sequence or the new titles, but the rest was an unalloyed joy. And I could sit and look at Karen Gillan for hours.

I was a bit sceptical before watching as Matt Smith with his floppy hair, tweed jacket and bow tie looked a bit... irritating.

After watching it, though, I have to say my scepticism was wiped away. I enjoyed the performances and found Matt Smith able to be sufficiently different from David Tennant's Doctor without ever causing me to want to slap him. I'm also very interested to see what happens with Steven Moffat as the head writer, as he has been responsible for some of the best episodes of Doctor Who since it restarted in 2005.

I found the music a little overbearing at times and the flying over London scene looked a tad cheesy and forced but I loved the rest of it. Matt Smith had a good 1st episode.

I don't watch television, period. I am not mentally damaged as yet.

I didn't watch it because I don't own a TV. What intrigues me is how the number of the viewing audience is calculated. Was it 8m exactly. Was it 7.51m rounded up to 8m. Was 8.49m rounded down to 8m or was it thumb suck by an agency paid to make the BBC look good? Whatever figure, I am surprised that so many people, forgive me, watched such rubbish.

I've just watched it in iPlayer. I did so with some trepidation, as David Tennant has overtaken Tom Baker as my favourite Doctor. No need to worry though, the new bod plays Tennant very well, it took some time to realise that there's wasn't some plot line where the new incumbent had retained his former self's voice and character!

Excellent programme. I am looking forward to the rest of the series. Poor old Ian Cheese. There are some good programmes out there you know. Just because we have a TV doesn't mean it's on all the time.

No ... never seen it since Tom Baker left!

At least the new assistant is hot.

A good entertaining episode. I think he may make a good doctor once the David Tennent factor wears off

Yes and i enjoyed it. the great thing about the Doctor regenerating is you can keep it fresh and new. David Tennant was brill but weren't they all. At 48 i have seen a few and my 9 year old girl loves it too. I reckon over the next few episodes Matt will tick all the boxes. Keep it up Beeb

Was worried that Matt Smith would not come up to the standard of David Tennant, but I should not have, as both Karen Gillan and he were absolutely fantastic! More importantly, our three boys also think that the latest Doctor Who and his assistant were great.

Talk about essential Saturday night viewing - brilliant!

nicely different, different atmosphere and tone.
not sure about the new Tardis layout, but I'll get used to it.
Everybody LIVED!!!!! Makes a change.
Wonder where the swimming pool has gone? Check you wardrobes everyone,

I have watched pretty nearly every epsiode of Dr Who since its inception.

David Tennant was exceptional in the role - Matt Smith has to prove himself yet.

I found the plot silly. The story line had no subtlety or any sense of 'internal logic'. It felt like it was being made up as it went along.

The writers need to credit the audience with a little more intelligence and staying power so that more complex and interesting story lines can be weaved.

There is also far too much crashing and running around with loud music.

The Doctor's new companion / love object has a lovely face and nice figure - but let's see her do something interesting in the next few episodes please.

BTW - the interior of the Tardis has become irritatingly ridiculous, with far too many fires and sparks flying around at the slightest provocation. It should be sparse and quirky high-tech, not absolutely stupid.

I may watch the next one, but it is not certain.

I am a big Doctor Who fan so it may come as shock that i never watched the first episode of series 5 and will not be Watching the rest of the series nothing against Matt Smith but he is just not Doctor Who the opening music is terrible why change it i don.t like the docter being young i prefer an old doctor with a young assitant i mean it worked in the other series maybe it just comes down to some people hate change i loved david Tennant as the Doctor and having ejoyed 3/4 years with him as the Doctor its just not the same as it was

Sorry BBC.
Did not watch the last series,or the one before that.
You are producing a programme,long past it's sell by date.
So.Eight million viewers tuned in.
Since when did the number of viewers,mean quality television productions?
Rather suspect that nothing else was worth watching on any other TV Channel.
By all means,applaud yor ratings.Just recognise that your competition have only themselves to blame.
There are far better programmes than Dr.Who.
If you still have Eight Million Viewers three weeks from now,then your competitors should hang their head in shame.

I thought Matt Smith was excellent. I just hope and pray that the writers don't burden the 11th Doctor with all the angst and sentimental baggage that frequently spoilt the Tennant era.

And to those who will waste precious seconds of their lives merely to write "With all the blah de blah going on in the world at the moment does this deserve to be an HYS topic": yes it does.

I haven't watched Doctor Who for many years (not really since Tom Baker) but I did see the last David Tennant episodes and wasn't impressed. However, I gave Matt Smith the benefit of the doubt and was very pleasantly surprised. The story was pretty good, Matt makes an engaging Doctor and Karen Gillan is stunningly attractive - she can handcuff me any time! Excellent start, I'll definitely continue to watch if the standard stays this high.

Haven't got a telly!!!!!!

I have to admit I enjoyed the first episode and I think Matt Smith will make a very good doctor. Probably one of the best.

I didn't think he would when he was announced as the new Doctor and they showed clips of his work - but when I saw him as himself...he just seemed right.

Well worth a watch! And to all those moaners, or the self righteous lot who don't bother with such trivia - your loss!

Absolutely awful. Terrible new doctor.

"The first episode of the new series of Doctor Who was watched by more than eight million viewers, the BBC says. Did you watch it?"

NO! And judging by the number of families doing 'going out together things' there were unlikely eight million people available to watch it!?

Still. When the showers kick in, and the holiday is over...

218. At 7:53pm on 04 Apr 2010, John Campbell wrote:

Sorry BBC.
Did not watch the last series,or the one before that.
You are producing a programme,long past it's sell by date.
So.Eight million viewers tuned in.
Since when did the number of viewers,mean quality television productions?"

Not everyone has the same taste as you. I thought he did good job. I assume you are looking forward to the coming documentary "I refuse to be happy no matter what"

Strikes me that while all "the kiddies" are being else-wise entertained, nobody else cares that doctor who-ever is still running

8 milliom viewers? Try 80,000! Everyone else is on Oestre holiday ;o)

I'm not to sure about the title sequence and music but everything else was amazing. At watching Matt Smith's first scene just after he had regenerated i was nervous that he was trying to be david but on seeing the first episode it is clear he has invented his own doctor which is good. The plot was good i think steven moffat is a much better writer than Russell T Davies, some of his episodes have been very poor but stevens are always good! O yer and not sure about the new taris set its odd its not that i don't like change it just doesn't have the right sort of look if that makes sense.

Sorry, it'll take a lot to improve on David Tennant. He was the best Doctor ever and that comes from someone of 60 who has watched since the programme began.
Neither do I like the altered music - leave well alone, please.
Very suspect start with the young Amelia "praying" on her knees to Santa Claus??!! Is this really what we should be showing to children, who must be getting very confused?

I liked Matt Smith. And I liked Karen Gillan. She's nice.
I liked about the first half of the story and then I slowly began to lose interest and dozed off a couple of times towards the end. Maybe the episode felt too long or the plot became too convoluted or the fancy camera work distracted me too much, but I just didn't seem to get into the episode quite as much as I would have liked.

My husband and I love Doctor Who - we have been fans since we were young during the John Pertwee, Tom Baker days. We are always a little apprehensive about any changes to one of our favourite programmes (we were when the little known David Tennant was taking over), but we were not disappointed with the first episode. Matt Smith was excellent as the Doctor, bring back a touch of madness - similar to Tom Baker, authority and and genuine affection for people which made him endearing. Great story, with none of the silliness and sentimentality which crept into the last few episodes. In my opion, Steven Moffat has written one of the greatest and cleverest episodes of Dr Who ever in "Blink" - we have watched it so many times and never tire of it. So we are definitely looking forward to the new series. This is one of the best loved shows on the box, so the BBC know they have to get it right and I feel they have hit the mark and are still producing a high quality programme - as good as it was when it first returned.

I love all the typical grumpy HYS comments from people who can't accept that some people may like a TV show that they don't (by don't I mean: have never even watched (we both know they just don't like the licence fee and don't want to admit that BBC gets over 80% of the ratings across all its channels)), but not half as much as I loved last nights episode. While Smith isn't Tennant he made a pretty good replacement and the story was good if a little too Moffat for the beginning of the season (I like his stuff but it's always dark and mysterious, never any straight up invasions or anything).

It's shaping up to be another quality season though. Keep up the good work, BBC!

I find it funny that people who don't watch Dr Who seem to be psychic and able to judge whether it's any good or not.

Anyway, I enjoyed it. Matt Smith is completely mad, and I'm still wondering if he enjoyed those fish fingers and custard.

(no telly here either, hurray for iPlayer)

I watched it, and though it was a very typical opening episode, with lots of big crashy scenes. Hopefully the series will settle in and calm down a bit and get on with a proper story. wasn't entirely convinced by the idea of Matt Smith as the doctor, but so far, so good.

No I didn't watch it.

I'm still waiting for a decent explanation why production was moved from England to Wales after 40 odd years. Good for Wales of course - bad for England.

I just watched the most recent episode and was disapointed.

Yes the doctor was witty and quite a character, but I think the way in which the characters are portrayed is really damaging.

I think there is far too much sexualised content. Maybe I'm just seeing it because of my age or mind at the time, but I know several children who love to watch this show, and I think it is not appropriate for them (the clothes of Amy, the conversation with Jess and the internet stuff and the doctor undressing and Amy enjoyinng it...). I think the makers of this episode have got the feel for the show all wrong, with a lot of content children would not understand, and if they sought to understand would not be beneficial to them, but even perhaps harmful.

The episode didn't inspire me to watch more, and I only hope that the next episodes are more child friendly, as I know a large proportion of viewers are young people and children.

I watched it and liked Matt Smith but I didn't like the story. Typical pc BBC having the girl praying to Santa at Easter and being Scottish in an English town. It gave her the lines about it being rubbish being there and the Doctor understanding why she felt so out of place. As if he could have got away with her being English and saying that about a Scottish town. Why not have her being Scottish in a Scottish town! The DR never seems to go there unless it involves highlanders or Queen Victoria.

I've been a Doctor Who fan since I was old enough to understand television and I still am at the age of 34. I've loved the revival, even though I acknowledge that it hasn't been to everyone's taste and that there have been weaker episodes.

I watched last night with a couple of friends and thoroughly enjoyed it aside from the new title music, which I don't really care for. Everything else about the episode I liked: it had a serviceable plot (not great but adequate for an introductory episode that has much else to do), it had charming performances, some clever dialogue, and it was beautifully shot. The bottom line is that I took to Matt Smith and Karen Gillan straight away. At the end of the episode I received several texts from friends, some of whom are merely casual viewers, all expressing their delight at the episode. I also know that these friends were pleased for me because they know what a fan I am. Doubtless others would differ and that's fine.

What does disappoint me a little is the number of churlish and petulant comments here to the effect that, just because they don't like it, it shouldn't be on. I'm even more disappointed by foolish remarks of Muppet_Master et al, who assert that nobody is interested in the programme. It verges on the heroic to take a position that is so utterly crushed by even a cursory look at the evidence. Doctor Who has consistenly pulled in around 8-10 million viewers and the Christmas specials have peaked at around 13 million. That is not the BBC's assertion: the figures are produced independently by BARB and are accepted as accurate in the same way as opinion polling generally. There are also other measures of the series' popularity, such as the massive merchandise sales. To say that the show isn't really popular is simply silly.

If you don't like the programme, watch something else. If you don't watch TV at all (and I scarcely watch any myself) good for you. But why begrudge a show that entertains, exhilarates, and excites so many people?

Doctor Who is a children's show that succeeds because, for a brief hour or so, it can make adults feel some of the wonder of being a child again. The world is just that little bit more magical, exciting, and vivid so long as that Blue Box is nearby. Some are immune to this -I'm very pleased that I am not.

I enjoyed it. Smith played it very well indeed, and the production values just get better and better. As SF it certainly beats the likes of Independence Day.

Loved the new opening sequence, but not so keen on the music. Not as epic as previous ones or as quirky as the classic one. Matt Smith was quite good, bit of running around, bit of mad dialogue, bit of confusing plot, bit of saving the earth and all back in the Tardis really for next week. Who cares if he's a 20 Something Doctor, William Hartnell was a 60 Something Doctor and he was great. What's not to like? Good luck to Matt, Gillian and Steven Moffat too - so far so good.

Awaiting the new Dr. Who with considerable trepidation here in Canada.

In reponse to englandrise #34

"I'm still waiting for a decent explanation why production was moved from England to Wales after 40 odd years. Good for Wales of course - bad for England"

I think you'll find it was becuase the show was cancelled and brought back to life in Wales because BBC Wales chose to invest in the show, not moved anywhere - unless the move was planned to take 15 years!

The new assistant is super hot - just what all dad orders. Plus Matt Smith good 1st outing.

Yes I watched, and I wish I didn't. I won't be watching it again. I was very disappointed in the new character and found the actor to be odd to watch and weak, his characterisation childish and the whole story line awful and difficult to follow. They casted the wrong actor in my opinion. His youth has nothing to do with it - it is his look, lack of experience and ability to characterise such eccentricity. He was interviewed saying he based his character on Einstein - it is not rocket science to say the producers made a big casting mistake!

Please bring David back!

I'm a massive sci-fi fan and I thought it was a good start. The story wasn't too predictable and with the departure of Russell 'nauseaTingly over-liberal' Davies I hope the storylines go back to some serious science / fantasy based fiction rather than constantly bumbling around 21st century London(Wales) picking sidekicks from a benneton catalog and moaning about peoples feelings, then crying. Good start Mr Moffat, I hope you haven't given the BBC too much say in what you do.

i was expecting to hate it but was pleasantly surprised. starting all over with a new doctor and a new assistant had big risks but it was a lot better than i was expecting. still miss david tennant though.

"I'm still waiting for a decent explanation why production was moved from England to Wales after 40 odd years. Good for Wales of course - bad for England"

Wales shouted for the opportunity first I guess.

I really enjoyed the this episode. I found that the episode really got into more of a science fiction storyline as comment #44 suggests. Matt was fun and witty and in my opinion Karen Gillan is both the right choice and definitely hot :)

Bring Back Blakes 7!!!

I was surprisingly impressed with the new writer and Matt Smith as the new Doctor. Karen Gillan looked really good just (even my teenage sons said so.) And as for those people who think her dress was inappropriate - do you not remember being young and seeing Louise Jameson. It was a good start and I hope Matt will develop into a memorable Dr Who. Finally now that BBC have one watchable programme in the week is there any chance they could go for 100% increase. Sundays would be a good starting point - currently completely dire the entire day.

No I did not, I would like to say sorry but I'm not. The new doctor does not even look like man and that for me makes it un-watchable, make your own conclusions from that.

I did watch it. I thought it was OK - all apart from the theme music. What have you done to it? Absolutely awful.

No, not a fan of it really.

Not really up to scratch, I'm afraid. Matt Smith is proof that if you regenerate too many times you end up with Frankendoctor. He just needs a bolt through his neck.

Very good like how the production team worked the new Doctor Who into the series and his character

As for his assistant.. WOW!

ps...If Dr Who ever wants to get rid of her he can go back to the early 80's and leave her with me... she's lovely!

Our household including the kids were glued to the tv and could not believe an hour had passed we were that well entertained. Firstly there was only one thing we disliked and that was the new theme tune, it just didnt feel right, didnt feel as punchy as what it used to do, didnt feel as though it was saying "here listen up Dr Who is on", so please bring back the old one, at least for the start anyway, save the new one for then end.

Now for the new Dr. we were all pleasantly surprised,he made us laugh as much as what David did and yet he was nice and refreshing, the children fell in love with him instantly. My partner naturally loves the new assistant. The new TARDIS looks cool albeit a little weird, but then I always believe thats the intention with any TARDIS so we are ok with that.

The storyline for this new episode was wicked, one thing we love about Dr Who is the way it turns what seems to be simple things and twist it into something else. The corner of your eye thing was brilliant and we definately loved the twist in that, how many others got caught out by the door, we certainly did, brilliant, more of this please.

So what are we looking forward to in the coming series, well one thing I and my eldest are looking forward to is the Weeping angels, we think they are coming up again. I remember the one called Blink and my god was we creeped out, and no statues like that in London will never be seen the same way again and also a great game to play whilst in London. My kids are also looking forward to seeing what appears to be a new look dalek. Also looking forward to seeing more of the Dr et al.

As for those who say they cannot stand Dr Who etc, why even go to the energy of posting here, why comment on something you havent watched? Dr Who is supposed to be nutty, crazy, he's an eccentric Dr. It takes great imagination to write these things, but if you prefer to watch programmes like Harry Hill well good for you, but in my opinion anything that encourages kids to have an imagination and even families to sit together to watch it and then discuss has to be a great thing. My family love it and love tearing it to pieces afterwards and the kids like telling me what they would do if they were the Dr. So yes perfect family time if nothing else.

And just one other thing, I dont truly believe we have seen the last of David in Dr, he still has other self in the parrallel (sp) universe thingy ma jiggy, so there is always scope to come back even for a special one off. After Do Who is the Dr and can pretty much do whatever he wants.

so well done all involved, we cannot wait for next weekend :)

I thought he was great liked him straight away and think there is already good chemistry between him and Karen Gillan his assistant.
He reminds me a bit of a mix between Patrick Troughton and the great (and still my favourite)John Pertwee.Though I think he will make this character his own.
Brilliant casting BBC well done.

@44 Matt Robinson,

You describe Russell T Davies as 'over-liberal' and assert that the companions during his tenure were chosen "from a benneton catalog".

During that era, the main companions (excluding the specials) consisted of two white women and one black woman. Irregular companions comprised two white women and two white men, one of whom was portrayed as bisexual. Given Benetton's reputation for using multicultural actors and models in its promotions, I can only assume you therefore object to the casting of a black actress as a companion. Your 'over liberal' remarks also leads me to assume that you also objected to the presence of gay or lesbian characters in the series and that, in your opinion, allowing the presence of black and gay people on TV is 'too' liberal. Instead, presumably, you think they should be excluded for the savages and deviants they are.

Thankfully, the producers of Doctor Who (and I daresay the overwhelming majority of its audience) are not petty, small-minded bigots.

David Tennant is a hard act to follow, as is Joe Pasquale.

Havn't watched a real TV in ages (too much how-overpriced-is-your-house and im-a-celebrity-get-me-off-this-talent-show).

Saw it on iplayer, though. Not bad, the changes to the theme tune weren't necessary, but the rest was ok. Good choice of cast. Reasonable plot, not the best (the "don't blink" episode is still my favourite by far), but certainly not the worst either.

Overall, 4/5. 1 point lost for re-working the theme tune a little too much, 1 point lost for mediocre plot, but 1 point gained for the Patrick Moore cameo!

I watch the first 10 minutes then turned off. They've Merlined it.

We found him a bit manic - well, exceptionally manic - but presumably he'll calm down a bit as he settles into the role. Fortunately we had the subtitles turned on throughout, which was lucky: if we hadn't, we'd have missed half the dialogue. As to the plot... well, you have to take the rough with the smooth, and bearing in mind that Steven Moffat delivered at least three of the best scripts the show has ever seen during the previous Doctor's tenancy, we have high hopes there. Let's think of this one as a warming-up exercise, shall we? I'd say the assistant is too young, but its difficult to be objective about that: I thought Carole Ann Ford, Wendy Padbury and Katy Manning were awfully grown-up at the time. Let's see how it goes - the jury is still out here.

Watched it tonight, and got to admit it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. So I am going to remain open minded for the next few shows at least.

Booooorrrrriiiiing!!!! :-p

thought new show was brilliant !!! really enjoyed it and happy that Dr Who continues to be a great show to watch !!!

Yes i watched the new Dr Who and i really enjoyed it. I think Matt Smith will make an excellent replacement for David Tennent, didn't think much of the story though, too much running about, too much loud music, one scene with the coma patients in the hospital reminded me of The Empty Child episodes, but it's early days and i'm looking forward to watching the rest of the series.

Started ten minutes in. I did think there was something wrong (But nice) about her police uniform. I'll watch it again on i-player later this week.

Praying to santa at easter? A wedding dress in the last shot, boy is this one mixed up kid. Is she going to develop multiple personalities. The Doctor might have bit off more then he can chew this time. LOL.

It was OK ... With Moffat in charge I was maybe expecting a bit more but it's not a bad start. My one criticism is the indistinct speech - both Matt Smith & Karen Gillan were less than clear, both talking very fast (enough for 2 episodes worth). I'm getting on a bit, but not that much! Found myself having to rewind a few times to try and figure what was said.

Absolutely brilliant, all of it, accept the stop frame bit. I don't think that worked well.

I must be one of the few on here that doesn't have David Tennant in my top 3 (Tom Baker, Pertwee, Davidson). Davidson always felt alien, Pertwee was just a great actor and Baker had madness in his eyes. I think Matt Smith appears at first to mix the traits of Baker/Davidson. The Doctor has to be a nutter!

The one thing I really yearn for is a return to the 1/2 hour episodes of the original series. 3 or 4 proper cliffhangers in a storyline, I don't think the new series has ever captured that intensity.

To the people who have no telly but watched it on iplayer, I hope you have paid your license fee! Amazing how the others that said they didn't watch it were able to say how bad it was.

I find it hard to believe that the BBC is still churning out Dr Who.

Why can't we have some NEW entertainment rather than re-incarnating programmes that are long past their best and which should have ended more than 30 years ago?

Wonderfully silly and tremendous fun. The incidental music was a little strident at times but Matt Smith was excellent in the role. Nicely weird. I don't think anyone could displace my view that Tom Baker was the best for the part but Matt's slightly unhinged approach is a winner.
We ought to be required to put our age on these comments. I'm 36 going on 11.

Different, but excellent. I detected just a hint of David Tennant's steely glint in Matt Smith's eyes when he told the aliens to run, which I thought was a great bit of continuity - it's the same character, just with a new flavour.

And yeah, Karen Gillan is very easy on the eye :)

Funny question this really - a BBC series that the BBC has pushed down our throats (sorry -advertised) at every opportunity, had BBC personnel to review favourably (of course), given it the headline on the BBC entertainment website (where else?), and the BBC want to know what we thought of it? Is this REALLY a suitable topic for Have Your Say, or is this just more "in your face - you WILL watch it" hype? Cynical? Li'l ole me?

As it happens, I think that Matt Smith did a commendable job - reminded me very much of the Doctor of yesteryear - a proper Doctor with a quirky and likeable character. Much better than the last one - am I the only one who got sick and tired of the "look at me - I'm David Tennant - see how utterly imbecilic I can be" performance?

As a life long Doctor Who (though definitely not David Tennant) fan (from the latter days of Patrick Troughton), I think I'm going to enjoy this series.

I watched with an open mind and have to say that I think that Matt Smith came over very well. Too early to say though if he will live up to the part, definitely need to see a few more episodes before passing judgement on that one.

One thing that is totally unforgivable though. Who came up with the new theme tune ? it's awful. There was nothing wrong with the old one and this is a classic case of if something isn't broken, don't fix it.

I must have led a sheltered past because I had never heard of Matt Smith and when it was announced that he was to be the new Dr. Who I lost interest in the program.
Dear departed David Tennant with his wild eyed approach to the part left very large shoes for the new Doctor to fill. I wish him well but I fear that my days of hiding behind the sofa afraid of the Daleks and sundry other aliens are well and truly over. The knees are now seventy years old and don't take kindly to bending. Unfortunately its time for me to grow up and dip my toes into adult TV viewing. I hope the rest of you have years more of Tardis travelling to enjoy.

I like the way the writer has used time travel to create a back story to Amy Pond's relationship with the Doctor. She has effectively had a 12yr relationship with a man who has only known her for a day and it has obviously affected her relationship with her boyfriend and with many of the people in her village. It was clever writing! Hopefully we will get to see more of this Amy/Doctor back story as it develops.

As for Gillan's short skirt, it is just what girls of her age tend to be wearing these days and I imagine she'll be wearing something different in the next episode anyway! Any child wandering the high street would see women Karen's age wearing such stuff, so why can't she wear it? Billy's character wore chav stuff because that fitted her character. We have had glamorous assistants before, we'll have 'em again. At least the girl can act well and has been given a strong, dominant personality that equals the Doctor's. She may wear a short skirt, but it is one episode and by the looks of her and the Doctor's tempestuous beginnings, she'll be a strong role model for girls. Showing how a woman can be his equal. I think if they play this right, the BBC could match Lalla Ward's Romana character who was always the Doctor's equal and sometimes better.

As for Matt, I was worried. But no worries at all, he is odd, unkempt, confused, a little alien and confident all in the same scene. Just like a certain Tom Baker used to be. Here's hoping he is given the chance to shine, I think he could be great!

Now I'm off to eat some custard and fish fingers, anyone fancy a bite?

It's pointless to ask at the start of the season when there are 12 more to go - ask again in July when it's finished.

In general the new theme feels remixed to fit in with the Confidential and Sarah Jane adventures soundtracks, I for one enjoyed the incidental music but the "urgent" theme didn't need to be repeated all the time - Tennant's doc had one specific cue which wasn't done to death like the music here.

Dialogue was funny if quickly delivered, thankfully the BBC didn't do that much in the overhyping stakes compared to Ecclestone and Tennant, or if they did I switched off the TV - so when I watched the actual episode I didn't feel like I'd seen all of it before. So as long as they stay that good when the episodes fall back to 45 minutes, all is well in the new Tardis! The people that stopped watching based on 10 minutes, if you were watching on iPlayer who cares if you hated it, if you don't pay the licence fee it cost you nothing but time!

As a lifelong Who fan, I thourougly enjoyed it. Give Matt Smith a chance before judging him, I seem to remember that David Tennant wasn't liked much at first too (or Colin Baker for that matter!). I think that the new TARDIS interior excelled; sort of reminiscent of the original. Loved the flashback sequence showing the previous doctors. I didn't much like the new verison of the theme tune; should have left it as it was. I think that the series is in good hands with Steve Moffatt at the helm, as he has previously worked on the classic show. Well done the Who team!

Get rid of the "New" DW Ident Music as it is not a patch on the Old Themes opening and closing, and very off puting.

Very good

Change in pace and feel but still the same show

Great not to be stuck in London

Yep. It worked for me.

Good job by the scriptwriter and good delivery from the two leads.

Loads of energy, which is great for Matt Smith's first outing, but I hope the manic pace calms down just a bit in future episodes or it could get annoying and distract away from the storyline.

Just watched it on iPlayer having missed it last night. I enjoyed it; Karen Gillan and Matt Smith were very good and the high standard of the revived series set by Christopher Ecclestone, David Tennant et al looks set to continue. Quick gripe about the theme music - the previous, orchestral version was sliiightly too dramatic but nonetheless very good indeed. The new one seems to have got a bit lost. Orchestral one again, please, or just go right back to basics with a Tom Baker-era "electronica" one? Anyway, looking forward to more.

Just watched it on iPlayer and I am still reeling. It was fantastic, and I'm probably being a bit over-eager here but I feel Matt Smith will surpass David Tennant given time. Tennant was good, but I found some of his moments a little cringeworthy and the plots didn't really hold water, but maybe I should be blaming Russell T Davies for that. This first outing for Smith was excellent - he instantly commanded the role.

There seems to be a bit of theme bashing going on here, but I quite liked it. It's good to hear the theramin taking the melody, rather than the melodrama of the previous strings-heavy version.

Can't wait for the next episode.

No; it never was worth watching, has over the years been staffed with 2nd rate actors reading 3rd rate scripts and as for the Daleks - well just laughable.....

It started as a children's program and it remains as such and as the children who watched the original episodes progressed to 'adulthood', so the program schedulers moved the program with them.

To now show this nonsense at 'prime-time' is a sad reflection on what the majority of the television watching public call entertainment.

I haven't watched Dr Who in a long while, and a programme attracting eight million viewers no longer means what it use to mean. When the BBC stop chasing audience figures I'll start to believe they are worth their license fee.

No, I didnt watch the 'new' Dr Who, when I was a child, I used to watch it, now I'm an adult, it doesn't appeal to me. The same with James Bond & Batman & Robin.

We all thought that Matt Smth was brilliant. But the new title music was
RUBBISH. 12 yr old said that it ruined it. 10 yr old misses the original start to the music. Why have you done it?!

Thought the whole thing was excellent.
Liked David Tennant, but it certainly was time for a regeneration and Matt Smith I think will quickly eclipse what's gone before. Personally, (considering that I intially thought him too young), I already prefer him in the roll.
As for companions Karen Gillan is a DEFINITE improvement over anyone who came after Billie Piper.
Most significant is the change from Russell T Davis to Steven Moffat however.
I think we owe Davis a huge debt for his vision in bringing the Doctor back in such a successfull format, but after the Eccleston series I didnt always rate some of the episodes under his charge.
Some of the episodes of the David Tennent era felt too much like a Children's BBC production rather than a show that can appeal to the whole family. It's a difficult thing to achieve, adults have the capacity to stretch credulity and turn a blind eye to some aspects of a plot, but as the Tennent series progressed I found a lot of their episodes hit and miss. I think also it started to get a little bit too clever for its own good and carried away with it's success.
I think with Moffat we have the pottential for a slight re-launch. Not ditching all that has gone before at all, but maybe tightening and redefining a few things and returning back to the much sharper show that we had back in the Eccleston days.

I didn't watch it, as I have more interesting things to do on a Saturday evening, than watch children's television. Eight million people really should get a life.
Interesting though, that Matt Smith bears an uncanny likeness to the great Jeff Buckley.

It wasn't bad...I did feel at times they were dragging the story out a bit,some of the music seemed a bit intrusive and it got a bit too frenetic in places. And what on earth has been done to the opening credits and the music there? The main question is,though,is Matt Smith any good? And yes,I'd say he is. Very good indeed. With some good stories[rumours are Neil Gaiman has written an episode!],I think we could be in for a great time with the doctor over the next few years.

I watched the show and thought its ok but I do feel sorry for Matt Smith he was always on a loser following David Tennent who is a very good actor its a bit like the poor person who has to follow Sir Alex Ferguson you are never going come close to being as good.

"7. At 7:33pm on 04 Apr 2010, Imatroll99 wrote:
I didn't watch it because I don't own a TV. What intrigues me is how the number of the viewing audience is calculated. Was it 8m exactly. Was it 7.51m rounded up to 8m. Was 8.49m rounded down to 8m or was it thumb suck by an agency paid to make the BBC look good? Whatever figure, I am surprised that so many people, forgive me, watched such rubbish."

over 8 million people a year read a mills and boon book or an Agatha Christie yet accourding to the littery elete thes books are utter rubish. Some winners or shortlisted books in the booker prise are unreadable to the majority of the population.

As ill i can say is one mans rubbish is another mans good relaxing entertainment.

Doctor Who?

Maybe it's because of a new Doctor, but first impresions are not up to standard. However I will see how Matt settle's into the role.

It took about 15 minutes for me to warm to Matt Smith - the opening scenes semed to be aimed at kiddies. His new assistant plays the part well, has a perfect voice and character too. I was not over impressed by this episode but think it will improve. God knows, we need some entertaining stuff on the TV.

I became very disillusioned with Doctor Who throughout the last section of Davies' reign. This was mainly because I felt it was trying too hard to be dramatic, and, in doing so, it confused dramatic plotlines with storylines designed to depress. Many of the last episodes I would not have let my friend, who is 8, watch, as they systematically destroyed someone she saw as a hero.

However, I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw this episode. It seemed to go back to the gentle charm I fell in love with in 2005 (I was not born when the original series ended, so this was my first exposure). It was light-hearted and funny, as well as having dramatic moments, exciting moments, heartbreaking moments, and moments of sheer self-indulgent tomfoolery. This is the Doctor Who that I loved so much.

My greatest measure of how good this was was the reaction of said 8-year-old friend; she was excited and ecstatic, jumping around going "It was amazing and I loved him!!". Because, remember, Doctor Who is not just a show for adults; kids are enthralled by it.

I have no doubt that it will get more serious as the series continues, but that is a natural progression. This was a perfect start. It sucked me in, and Matt Smith surprised me. After Chris Eccleston left I was determined to hate Tennant, so that lesson was a hard one learned and I went into this with an open mind. And he was quite brilliant. I loved the manic energy and switches as he struggled to find himself, to readjust to a new body, and I adored the retro touches; the bow-tie, the slightly less polished feel of the new TARDIS.

I did love it. It was a return to everything I loved about Doctor Who; it can once again be the fun escape I need from a dismal world.

I like the new girl perhaps she will make the series like Billie piper did for the last 2 doctors. This new Guy will take some getting used to. I did not like his perfomance and i hope he gets better. The story was awfull and really dull for a first episode. For now I would rather watch Billie piper re-runs for me David Tennant is Dr who.

7. At 7:33pm on 04 Apr 2010, Imatroll99 wrote:
I didn't watch it because I don't own a TV... I am surprised that so many people, forgive me, watched such rubbish.

I find it astounding that you think you're in a position to say that Dr Who is 'rubbish' when you don't have a TV and, therefore, couldn't have watched it to form any opinion, rubbish or otherwise! Talk about moaning for moaning's sake - get a life. I watched it and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Tardis was completely redone inside and all that seems to have happened is a few people have nipped to a scrap yard to pick up some levers, sparklers and christmas lights. They have then been randomly placed using some stick glue. Should have been updated completely using more modern looking instruments. Maybe another missed opportunity to update the exterior a bit too - a Blue Police Box in 2010? I'm pretty sure a new changed exterior and interior could be easily explained in a story.

Could run a competition on Blue Peter to design an all new Tardis for the next series. I'm pretty sure Blue Peter viewers would do a much better job.

Didn't like the new theme music but I'm sure it'll grow on us like the previous change (I think in the 80s). Matt did a good job.

Jeggy: "I was very disappointed in the new character and found the actor to be odd to watch and weak, his characterisation childish and the whole story line awful and difficult to follow."

I could say the same of every single one of that gurning fool Tennant's shows. Shouted bad dialogue, badly thought out and childish storylines, and over-sexulisation; hallmarks of the Tennant era.

Matt Smith was excellent. The storyline could have been made a bit tighter and not a "saving the world" type (yawn), but on the whole far more watchable than the dross pumped out by RTD and DT.