Norman Reedus has discussed The Walking Dead's falling ratings.

Currently on season 9, the show was watched by an average of 14 million people in its prime in 2014. However, that number has been falling, with an average of 7 million people tuning in for series 8.

Speaking to Deadline, the Daryl Dixon actor said: "Look, everyone's worried about numbers and they're like oh, the numbers have dropped.

Gene Page AMC

"Well, they only drop when we compare it to ourselves, you know what I'm saying? The way people watch TV is different since we started, for everyone. I mean, sports are down across the board too. It's just the nature of the beast, that's how I see it.

"It's a crazy weight to carry around on your shoulders when you have that big of an audience and everyone's asking is it bigger, is it bigger?

"The beast has just changed, permanently for everyone now."

He added: "Personally, I would love it if we never even talked about numbers. I just want to make a show we want to make, because what it feels like on set is great right now.

"I just want to make the honest show that we started making from the beginning, that's what it feels like we're making now."

Victoria Will/AMC

Norman also discussed whether the programme could lose viewers following the departure of Andrew Lincoln, who plays Rick Grimes.

"Some bands are heavy on lead guitar and it's just guitar solos forever and you know, the rest of the band isn't getting the chance to play. Now, we got new singers. we got new guitarists and I really feel that the show's the best it's ever been," he said.

"We're making the show that we want to make right now and you can feel it on set, you can feel it all over the place. I really feel the scripts and the stories and the episodes are even better in the back eight, I really do.

Gene Page AMC

Related: The Walking Dead season 9, episode 5 trailer gives us first look at Rick Grimes' epic final episode

"They're f***ing epic, you know, and they're just crushing and they're severe, all of them. The show's morphing into something else but it's got the heart and the feel of the original show, there's just new life breathing through it.

"So, do I think we'll lose viewers after Andy? I think they'll tune in to see what happens to Andy and then they're going to tune in to see what it's like without him."

The Walking Dead airs on AMC in the US and on FOX and NOW TV in the UK.

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