The first episode of the new Doctor Who series aired on BBC One on Saturday night, pulling in 8m viewers. The episode marked Matt Smith’s debut as the Eleventh Doctor, having taken over the role from David Tennant.

The viewing figures for Smith’s first appearance match exactly that of Tennant’s, when he first appeared at the 10th Doctor in April 2006.

Smith has won over critics and fans alike in the iconic role of the eccentric Time Lord, with some saying he has the potential to be the best Doctor yet. "[Smith] brings back genuine madness to the role of the Doctor - Matt's Doctor is bonkers,” said The Doctor Who Appreciation Society member Antony Wainer.

The episode, called The Eleventh Hour, saw Amy Pond (played by Karen Gillan) become the Doctor’s companion. Amy Pond’s previous career as a kissogram raised a few eyebrows from some viewers (well, The Daily Mail).

Click here to read our review of The Eleventh Hour.

This Easter weekend also saw the start of the final series of Ashes to Ashes on BBC One.

Phil Glenister, who plays Gene Hunt on the show, said of the series ending, “It's definitely the right time to end it. It's right to go out at the top, but you know, all good things must come to an end. I've been doing this for five years, the longest I've ever played a character. The last thing we want is, 'Series ten, episode nine, and we've run out of stories'. I felt instinctively this is enough.”

Click here to read our review of the first Ashes to Ashes episode!