Doctor Who fans have been voting in their thousands for their favourite episode of Jodie Whittaker’s first series, and now the most popular story has been revealed.

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Malorie Blackman and Chris Chibnall’s episode Rosa, which saw the Doctor and her team travel to 1950s America to witness Rosa Parks’ iconic bus protest, has been named the best episode of series 11.

Starring Vinette Robinson as Rosa and Josh Bowman as the villainous Krasko, the episode was praised at the time for its emotional heart and strong performances, as well as frank discussions about racism between the regular cast.

Over 9,000 fans ended up voting overall in the RadioTimes.com poll.

31 per cent of them named Rosa as their favourite episode from the series, followed by Pete McTighe’s Kerblam! and Vinay Patel’s Demons of the Punjab (which picked up 15 per cent and 11 per cent of the vote respectively).

Many fans and critics considered Rosa a huge success soon after it was broadcast, but the level of enthusiasm for the episode is still striking to see a full two months after it originally aired.

By contrast, it’s interesting to note that Arachnids in the UK, which was praised on social media at the time of broadcast, seems to have slipped off many fans’ radar in the weeks since, landing at second-to last in the RadioTimes.com poll.

Check out the full results of fans' favourite Doctor Who series 11 episodes below.


1. Rosa

Vinette Robinson as Rosa Parks and Joshua Bowman as Krasko in Doctor Who

Doctor Who series 11’s first historical adventure was a powerful look at the US Civil Rights movement with some seriously moving performances. Plus, we found out the Doctor might be Banksy. We’d hardly be surprised.


2. Kerblam!

Doctor Who series 11
Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill, Tosin Cole and Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who: Kerblam! (BBC) BBC

Infiltrating an intergalactic delivery service, the Doctor and pals discover a rotten conspiracy that threatens thousands of lives – as well as a few fun Doctor Who Easter Eggs for fans to enjoy.


3. Demons of the Punjab

Actor Mandip Gill in Doctor Who series 11 episode six, Demons of the Punjab (BBC)

Another emotional historical episode saw Yaz (Mandip Gill) discover some old family secrets when the gang travelled back to the time of Indian Partition. As with any wedding, there were some tears.


4. It Takes You Away

Doctor Who It Takes You Away, BBC Pictures

A cabin-in-the-woods thriller turns into a truly strange and existential sci-fi in the series’ penultimate episode. And yes, the talking frog is an image that will stick with us for a very long time.


5. The Woman Who Fell to Earth

Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who: The Woman Who Fell to Earth (BBC)

Jodie Whittaker’s Who debut saw her take on a toothy foe in Sheffield, build a new sonic screwdriver and gather a new team of companions (Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole). Not bad for a night’s work.


6. The Witchfinders

The Doctor’s gender finally comes into play as she’s accused of witchcraft in a fear-gripped Lancashire town. Things only get worse (or better, if you’re a viewer) when Alan Cumming’s flamboyant King James I arrives on the scene.


7. The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos

Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who: The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos (BBC)

The Doctor, Yaz, Graham and Ryan’s adventures come to a head in this finale episode, which sees them face off again with their old foe Tzim-Sha and his unwitting accomplices the Ux.


8. The Ghost Monument

Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who: The Ghost Monument (BBC)

After being stranded on an alien planet the Doctor and her friends get to grits with their first off-world adventure, complete with deadly alien foes and an impossible challenge. It was all worth it for that big Tardis reveal, we’re sure.


9. Arachnids in the UK

The Tardis team came back to Earth (specifically Sheffield) to find the city under attack from mutant spiders, thanks to the machinations of an American businessman. Worth the price of admission for Chris Noth’s scenery-chewing performance alone.


10. The Tsuranga Conundrum

Chris Chibnall took us on the new series’ first outer-space adventure (well, sort of), trapping the Doctor on a spaceship with a deadly (and extremely cute) monster and a ticking clock.


Now, we just have to wait and see how the 2019 New Year’s Day special rates up against all these stories. No pressure….

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Doctor Who: Resolution airs on BBC1 on Tuesday 1st January at 7.00pm

Authors

Huw FullertonCommissioning Editor

Huw Fullerton is a Commissioning Editor for Radio Times magazine, covering Entertainment, Comedy and Specialist Drama.

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