CULT sci-fi hero Doctor Who won the battle of prime time as 10 million viewers tuned in to watch the series return after a 16-year absence.

The latest incarnation, starring Little Hulton actor Christopher Eccleston, beat off competition from ITV1's Ant and Dec - and their guest England football captain David Beckham - to claim an average audience of 9.9 million on Saturday night.

Eccleston became the ninth small screen Doctor in a special effects-packed comeback, with former pop star Billie Piper starring as his new sidekick.

The series, which was screened at 7pm, had an average audience share of 43.2 per cent and hit a peak of 10.6 million viewers.

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, which ran against Doctor Who, had an average of 7.2 million viewers, taking a 31.4 per cent share. The Geordie duo peaked with an 8.5 million audience, 37.5 per cent of the viewing public.

It was a good day for Mr Eccleston, who has also been praised for his portrayal as the new Doctor - from previous doctor Sylvester McCoy.

McCoy, who played Doctor Who before the show was axed in 1989, said Eccleston's performance was "spectacular". He told a national internet news site: "Christopher Eccleston was quite alien as the Doctor. He looked wonderful.

"He had this manic grin which worried me. We were not sure if he was on the edge of insanity or not, which was rather good."

Fans had mixed views over the new-look show. Some say it is aimed at a younger audience, and is more like a children's TV programme, while others praised the new director for breathing new life into ideas first used in the original series.

Many have heaped praise on Eccleston for his quirky portrayal of the doctor, in which he brings wit and humour to the role.