Doctor Who Christmas special breaks BBC America ratings record

BBC America achieved its highest-ever audience on Christmas Day, as 2.47m tuned in for this year's Doctor Who festive special.

'The Time of The Doctor' broke the US channel's ratings record that had only been set a month previously by Doctor Who's 50th anniversary special, which drew 2.4m viewers.

Matt Smith made his final appearance as the titular Time Lord in Wednesday's episode, bowing out of the role after almost five years.

The Thick Of It's Peter Capaldi made his debut at the end of the show.

A special looking back at Smith's time on Doctor Who also performed well for the channel, with 1.54m tuning in immediately before his last show.

Smith's goodbye and The Doctor's regeneration was the most-watched five-minute segment on British television on Christmas Day, drawing 10.2m viewers on BBC One.

The show was watched by an average of 8.29m, with Mrs Brown's Boys topping the overall UK Christmas Day ratings with an audience of 9.4m.

Source: Digital Spy