Mark Bould suggests that a disappointing audience reaction and high production costs prompted the BBC's chief of programmes to cancel the series until the Daleks, introduced in the second serial in December 1963, were immediately popular with viewers. The serial has been repeated twice on the BBC: on BBC2 in November 1981, as part of the repeat season "The Five Faces of Doctor Who", achieving average audience figures of 4.3 million viewers; and on BBC Four as part of the show's 50th anniversary on 21 November 2013, achieving an average of 630,000 viewers. The serial received mixed reviews from television critics. Michael Gower of the "Daily Mail" wrote a short favourable review of the first episode, claiming that the ending "must have delighted the hearts of the "Telegoons" who followed". A reviewer in the "Daily Worker" stated that they "intend following closely" to the show, describing the ending as "satisfying". "Variety" felt that the script "suffered from a glibness of characterisations which didn't carry the burden of belief", but praised the "effective camerawork", noting that the show "will impress if it decides to establish a firm base in realism". After the second episode, Mary Crozier of "The Guardian" was unimpressed by the serial, stating that it "has fallen off badly soon after getting underway". She felt that the first episode "got off the ground predictably, but there was little to thrill", while the second was "a depressing sequel ... wigs and furry pelts and clubs were all ludicrous". Conversely, Marjorie Norris of "Television Today" commented that if the show "keeps up the high standard of the first two episodes it will capture a much wider audience". Retrospective reviews are mostly positive towards "An Unearthly Child". Referring to the serial while discussing the early years of "Doctor Who" in 1982, the "New Scientist"s Malcolm Peltu praised the script, acting and direction, but criticised the dated scenery. In 2008, "Radio Times" reviewer Patrick Mulkern praised the casting of Hartnell, the "moody" direction and the "thrilling" race back to the TARDIS. Christopher Bahn of "The A.V. Club" in 2010 labelled "An Unearthly Child" an essential serial to watch for background on the programme. In his review, he noted that the first episode is "brilliantly done; the next three together could be about a half-hour shorter but get the job done".