London, July 7 (IANS) Much of Britain apparently spent the weekend glued to television sets. Nearly 10 million tuned in Saturday to watch the latest episode of the long-running popular sci-fi series “Doctor Who”.

Then, many more millions witnessed the marathon, rain-interrupted Wimbledon men’s tennis final, won by Rafael Nadal Sunday - described by some as Wimbledon’s best ever.

Doctor Who, the ‘Time Lord’ of the universe now played by David Tennant, never dies and saves the world every Saturday evening in ever-more gripping episodes.

The episode this Saturday was the final of a two-parter in which the Doctor’s nemesis, the robot-like Daleks, invade the earth as part of an evil design to exterminate the universe.

At its peak, 47 percent of Britain’s television audience tuned in to see the Doctor defeat the Daleks with the help of his faithful companions - women who travel with him across the universe, helping out with his missions.

Millions of fans fretted about Tennant’s future after the last week’s episode ended with the Doctor being shot by a Dalek and beginning a process of ‘regeneration’ - the point at which another actor usually takes over the role.

But the handsome and wildly-popular Tennant survived the attempt to kill him off, to the relief of millions of teenage girls who adore Tennant’s bespectacled version of the Doctor.