Without reading the article, I think the new series has something of a following because the revival is headed by the dude that created Queer as Folk, and some of the issues that were addressed in that show (like, say, daddy issues) have also turned up in the Doctor Who revival. The new Who also introduced Captain Jack, who's bisexual, so I am sure that homos that tuned in for Russel T. Davies stuck around when tey gay game to town.
There's also the obvious--it's a pretty campy show. Kylie Minogue is going to be on the Christmas episode.
And the two new Doctors have each been fucking hot, too, which is, well, pretty much a first for Doctor Who.