Doctor Who Series 12 began with a significant dip in viewers compared to last series, as three million less viewers tuned in for the show's return on New Year's Day.

Despite stunning fans with a dramatic twist that saw historic villain The Master return from the dead, the show struggled to pull in overnight viewers.

It comes after 2018's series - the first to star Jodie Whittaker as the titular Time Lord - saw a huge boost in ratings for the BBC show.

Series return: Doctor Who Series 12 began with a significant dip in viewers compared to last series, as three million less viewers tuned in for the show's return on New Year's Day

At the beginning of the last series, Doctor Who attracted just over eight million viewers, but by episode five - The Tsuranaga Conundrum - the iconic sci-fi show received an average of 6.1 million viewers.

Wednesday's series return attracted just over five million viewers, and at one point viewers dipped to a low of 4.88 million.

However these ratings are not the lowest in the series' history, as The Eaters Of Light pulled in a mere 2.89 million viewers overnight when it aired in June 2017.

The figures are a far cry from Who's peak, which saw 13 million viewers tune in on Christmas Day in 2007.

Bad night: Wednesday's series return attracted just over five million viewers, and at one point viewers dipped to a low of 4.88 million

An insider told The Sun: 'Beeb bosses were hoping the downturn in ratings towards the end of the last series was just the novelty of Jodie's arrival wearing off a little.

'But the fact that the new season seems to have fared even worse will have them worrying whether it has less to do with who plays the Time Lord, and signs of a greater problem with the show. '

The insider added: 'After all, the debut episode aired in a day when many people were still off work and school, so should have attracted a more substantial audience.'

MailOnline have contacted BBC representatives for comment.

For the second episode, Who will move back to its regular time-slot on Sunday evenings, so it remains to be seen whether the viewership will improve.

The show has always seen a large boost in viewership through catch up and streaming.

The first of a two-part episode kicked off with a major twist on New Years Day, as The Master made an epic return from the dead, now played by Sacha Dhawan.

Twist: The first of a two-part episode kicked off with a major twist on New Year's Day, as The Master returned from the dead yet again with a new face

The series opener saw the TARDIS team try and track down aliens who were targeting MI6 agents, but it seemed they were coming from a threat far closer to The Doctor’s home.

After teaming up with the rogue agent O, the team chased down the tech mogul Daniel Barton (played by Lenny Henry) who seem to be involved in the otherworldly scheme.

Having chased Barton onto his private jet, it was revealed that O was in fact The Master, and the episode ended on a cliffhanger as he sent the plane crashing to the ground while the Doctor was trapped in another dimension.

Doctor Who Series 12 continues on Sunday at 7pm on BBC One.