A humorous study published in the Christmas issue of the medical journal BMJ says that watching a series about a doctor who saves people can encourage viewers to seek medical help.

According to the statistics provided, in years when the Doctor Who Christmas episode aired, for every 10,000 people in the following 12 months, there were about 6 fewer deaths than expected. Between 2000 and 2017, when the Doctor was played by David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi and Jodie Whittaker, there were 7 fewer deaths than expected per 10,000 people.

Doctor Who first aired 60 years ago, and between 1963 and 2022, 31 episodes fell over the festive period, 14 of which were broadcast at Christmas. 13 of the 14 Christmas rushers came out consecutively, from 2005 to 2017.

Death rates generally declined over the study period, and a related editorial said that while these episodes were unlikely to be the cause of improved health, they helped demonstrate the importance of doctors at Christmas.

“In reality, Christmas releases will never change the death rate of the population. This is a fluke, although it may be true that providing timely care, free of charge when needed, can really make a difference,” Bob Phillips, professor of paediatrics at the University of York, writes in the BMJ. “The doctor must have inspired many people to live better.”