JODIE WHITTAKER’s debut Doctor Who series has attracted the sci-fi programme’s highest average TV audience for almost a decade, figures show.

Full ratings for all of Whittaker’s ten episodes as the time-travelling Doctor (pictured) put the average audience at 7.7million.

The last time it enjoyed a larger average audience across an entire series was in 2010 — Matt Smith’s first year in the title role.

Whittaker’s average is also higher than the equivalent figure for David Tennant’s second series as the Doctor in 2007. Full ratings are different from overnight ratings as they include people who recorded a programme and watched up to seven days later.

Audiences for Whittaker’s individual episodes as the Doctor slipped across the series from 10.54million for episode one to 6.24million for episode nine. Episode ten, the series finale, saw ratings rise to 6.48million, according to the official Barb figures. The BBC has confirmed Whittaker, 36, will return as the Doctor in 2020.

This year will be the first since the show returned in 2005 that there will not be a special episode on Christmas Day. Instead a one-off adventure will be screened on New Year’s Day.

■ STRICTLY winner Stacey Dooley and finalist Joe Sugg will host BBC One’s New Year’s Eve concert. The show, which includes a performance by Madness and a fireworks display, starts at 11.35pm.