A heads up that - according to radiotimes.com - episode 3, "Gridlock" will be starting at 7.40pm. Manchester United seem to be the main culprits for the time change.

Will it affect the ratings? I think it's better for DW to start later than earlier. At least it'll help the footie's figures...

Thankfully, with BBC losing the rights to FA Cup games to ITV, this sort of thing will happen less frequently next year. Let's hope they lose the rest of their sporting rights, too.

The change to ITV starts for the season 2008-09 (which begins in August 2008), so season 4 will also be affected by any Saturday teatime football on the BBC.

Chances are that following on directly from the football, DW's figures will actually be up, as was the case with the World Cup last year.

Also likely to change is the episode on 12th May ("42") due to the Eurovision Song Contest. Seasons 1 & 2 saw the episode broadcast earlier than 7pm to fit in DW & the lottery before Eurovision.

lets hope the possible series 5 doesnt get affected by the footie. i really like football, but not when it mucks up my tv line-up.

Yes that's right, because then ITV can put football and other big sporting events on against Dr Who and reduce the average audience to 5-6m instead of the BBC having 12m viewers for Dr Who to inherit directly after the game...

Series 4 won't be affected because they are going to push it to a September or October start (in the place of Robin Hood which won't get a third series). That's what I think anyway, mainly due to the news that Torchwood's second series had been pushed forward to early '08.

I assume the Confidential time will be amended accordingly. Must keep an eye on the listings.

Please remember this is Episode three we're talking about!

I don't want anyone missing all but the last five minutes this Saturday because they got confused by this thread!

Digiguide says that the Confidential that week is on at 7.30pm! I really hope they see sense and change it.

I think it's already been confirmed that series 4 will start in the spring next year, as usual.

Yep.

And as much as people piss and moan about how they want to watch Doctor Who when it's cold and dark outside, the show performs incredibly well in a difficult slot in the year. That and it would be risky to take the show off for that long.

But people really aren't going to let that idea of a push to the Autumn die?

This is the same issue as last year...

At least United are playing this time...

But...If there is extra time and penalties the start time may be later still...

United should win, but...

It shouldn't affect ratings. I don't think it did last year. I think football spill overs are actually an aid to ratings...
Last edited by leatha : 04-04-2007 at 22:58

leatha! where have you been? first Den returns and now you!

you still can't have DT though no matter how pleased I am to see you back

Funny - radiotimes.com lists DWC as starting at 8.25, as you'd expect, straight after DW.


Apologies if I've confused people by posting this early - the change affects EPISODE 3. I just thought it may help to give notice to people who may miss the change.

There was absolutely nothing the BBC could do about this, before anyone starts...

Absolutely. I'm not complaining about the move at all. Any change in schedules - whether it be for the footie or Eurovision - are par for the course. There are very few programmes that have regular start times on a Saturday night - I can't think of any to be honest. I think it's the most irregular night of the week as far as that's concerned.

Other hit shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor change every week. So complaints are rather unfair.

I have my trusty copy of the RT and my beloved Toppy to see me through such times!

That's more than likely correct, Digiguide's listings will probably get updated nearer the time.

I think 7.40 is a much better time for Doctor Who. I usually have to record it and fit it in. Might actually manage to see it go out at 7.40pm

I'm not sure. I was just not here. I hadn't realised Den had gone too.
Last edited by leatha : 05-04-2007 at 14:45

Now I remember. I was sent to to naughty step, freshly chalked. What? Lots of forums have a nothern chalked naughty step.

Anyway. Freshly chalked, I fell through a crack in lime. That or I was absorbed. Dunno.

What happened to episode 2 ???

gridlock seems very good from what ive seen, not much info has been given about this episode, episode 10 doesnt seem to give away that much at the moment. cant wait. 18 hours and 45 minutes until 'The Shakespeare Code'

Episode two will be on tonight at 7pm.

Episode three will be on next week at 7.40pm (barring extra time in the football).

I thought that was fairly obvious...

I just read a disturbing thing on the Outpost Gallifrey web site :
Wha...? So if the football overruns there's no Dr Who that week? Surely not!

Looking forward to Ep3 now, as just found out its the one with



in it

(spoiler tags just in case)

The listing from Radio Times: