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When analysts take a look at how well Tuesday's special Christmas episode of "Doctor Who" did in BBC, they not only need to look at the modern "Doctor Who" series, but the original as well.

"Voyage of the Damned," the third annual Christmas special featuring David Tennant and a special guest appearance by Kylie Minogue, attracted 13.8 million viewers, or 55 percent of the televisions that were turned on in England Christmas Day, according to Digital Spy. Those numbers not only beat the modern series premiere of "Doctor Who" back in 2005, but those were the highest numbers the show has earned since 1979 when Tom Baker was still driving the Tardis.

By comparison, the series premiere of "Rose" pulled in 10.8 million viewers, and was still the ratings record-holder until "Voyage of the Damned."

The latest episode is the second in a row to not feature a regular companion. Billie Piper -- who appeared in the first modern Christmas special -- left the series after the second season before "Runaway Bride" and Freema Agyeman left the series as a regular at the end of the third season, prior to "Voyage of the Damned." Catherine Tate -- The Doctor's fill-in companion in "Runaway Bride" -- makes a one-year appearance as a regular companion to The Doctor in the upcoming fourth season.

The 13.8 million viewers was its peak. Throughout its 70-minute broadcast, the show averaged 12.2 million viewers, and was the second most-watched program on BBC on Christmas Day.

"Voyage of the Damned" will be included in the fourth season run of "Doctor Who" when it makes landfall in the United States later in 2008. The season will get its initial run on BBC in late spring 2008 following the second season of its spinoff show, "Torchwood," on BBC Two.