'Doctor Who' back in a big way

LONDON -- The success of the BBC's revamped "Doctor Who" franchise continued to beat expectations as almost 9 million viewers tuned in Saturday for the family drama's season debut. The 7 p.m. broadcast, which featured the debut of Freema Ageyman the good doctor's new sidekick Martha Jones, earned a 40% audience share -- up 200,000 viewers from Tennant's debut in the role last April. ITV's 6 p.m. repeat of blockbuster "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" failed to make much of a dent against "Doctor Who," pulling in 4.7 million viewers and a 24% share.