Press and Publicity Articles for The End Of The World

Christopher Eccleston's second outing as Doctor Who managed to see off ITV rivals Ant and Dec despite losing a quarter of the 10 million people who watched the show's launch episode.

Much has happened in the seven days since the sci-fi favourite returned. First the BBC announced it had commissioned a second series, then Eccleston announced he was quitting after just one season, sparking a whole new round of speculation over who will next fill the doctor's shoes.

Eccleston's surprise exit managed to keep the show on the front pages for another couple of days but it didn't help it retain last week's audience.

Saturday's show, in which the doctor and his assistant Rose Tyler travelled 5 billion years into the future to watch the end of the world, attracted 7.3 million viewers, 2.6 million down on last week.

However, BBC bosses said they were pleased by the figures. Saturday evening audiences were down across the board because of the unseasonably good weather, and the BBC1 show still managed to beat Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

The first episode of Doctor Who was a big hit - with more than 10 million people watching it.

But was the second episode as good as the first? Press Packer Ryan gives us his thoughts on the Doctor's latest adventure.

The second episode sees the Doctor offering Rose the chance to choose where they would travel to in the Tardis.

Joking that 100 years is boring they end up in the year Five Billion!

And how things have changed!

Strange guests

Rose and the Doctor are (uninvited) guests at a private party...the end of the world has begun!

The sun is expanding and the richest of all existing life forms are gathering.

The characters that stood out the most for me were the last human Cassandra, and Jabe - a tree from the Forest of Cheem.

Check out a special behind-the-scenes report from the set of episode two

The make-up artists had their work cut out but it looked very realistic.

Special effects teams obviously worked exceptionally hard on this episode to create the aliens within the giant space station.

The hooded Adherences, Face of Boe and Moxx of Balhoon were all amazingly created.

Newsround mention

However, they weren't as frightening as I imagined (we all laughed when they spoke... I loved the Moxx of Balhoon's squeaky little voice!).

Congratulations to Newsround Extra which got a special mention!

Rose Tyler is obviously a fan - and it proves watching Newsround may pay off one day when we're all watching the Earth end!

The episode was of very high quality with more remarkable performances from Eccleston and Piper who actually crack a few one-liners throughout.

Goodbye Doctor

Unfortunately Christopher Eccleston will only be the Doctor for one series - 13 episodes.

Hours after the BBC announced that a second series would be made, Eccleston announced he was quitting!

This came as a huge shock as most of the viewers commented on his excellent performance.

Doctor Who is so far a huge success but the question on everyone's lips... where are the Daleks?!"