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Encyclopedia > Doctor Who

Doctor Who

Current Doctor Who title sequence
Format Science fiction drama
Created by Sydney Newman
C. E. Webber
Donald Wilson
Starring Various Doctors
(currently David Tennant)
Various companions (currently Catherine Tate)
Theme music composer Ron Grainer,
Delia Derbyshire
Opening theme Doctor Who theme music
Composer(s) Murray Gold
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes 748 (as of 14 June 2008) (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 25 min. (1963–1984, 1986–1989)
45 min. (1985, 2005–Present)
various other lengths
Broadcast
Original channel BBC One (originally known as BBC tv)
Picture format 405-line black & white (1963–1967)
625-line black & white (1968–1969)
PAL 625-line colour (1970–1989)
720x576 16:9 (2005–present)
Original run Classic Series:
23 November 1963
6 December 1989
Television Movie:
12 May 1996
Current Series:
26 March 2005 – present
Chronology
Related shows K-9 and Company
Torchwood
The Sarah Jane Adventures
K-9
Doctor Who Confidential
Totally Doctor Who
Torchwood Declassified
External links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a mysterious alien time-traveller known as "the Doctor" who travels in his space and time-ship, the TARDIS, which appears from the exterior to be a blue police box. With his companions, he explores time and space, solving problems and righting wrongs. Doctor Who is the title of a long running British science fiction series. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 450 pixels Full resolution (1024 × 576 pixel, file size: 98 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This is a good quality screengrab from Doctor Who, which I capped using my TV Tuner. ... This example of a title sequence, from long-running serial drama Another World, was seen from 1966 to 1981, making it one of the longest-running continuous title sequences on television. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... For other uses, see Drama (disambiguation). ... Sydney Cecil Newman OC (April 1, 1917—October 30, 1997) was a Canadian film and television producer, best remembered for the pioneering work he undertook in British television drama from the late 1950s to the late 1960s. ... Cecil Edwin Webber (known as C. E. Webber and nicknamed Bunny by his colleagues) was a British television writer. ... Donald Wilson (born September 1, 1910, Dunblane, Scotland; died March 6, 2002, Gloucestershire, England) was a British television writer and producer, best known for his work on the BBCs adaptation of The Forsyte Saga in 1967. ... The ten faces of the Doctor on television Clockwise from top-left: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. ... David Tennant is the stage name of David John McDonald[1] (born 18 April 1971), a Scottish actor from Bathgate, West Lothian. ... Companion, in the long-running BBC television science fiction programme Doctor Who and related works, is a term used to describe a character who travels with and shares the adventures of the Doctor. ... This article is about the actress. ... Ron Grainer (August 11, 1922 - February 21, 1981) was an Australian-born composer who worked for most of his professional career in the United Kingdom. ... Delia Ann Derbyshire (5 May 1937 - 3 July 2001) was a British musician and composer who was a pioneer of electronic music. ... The Doctor Who theme music was created in 1963, composed by Ron Grainer and realised with electronics by Delia Derbyshire of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. ... Murray Gold (born 1969, Portsmouth, England) is a British composer for stage, film, and television and a dramatist for both theatre and radio. ... is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Doctor Who episodes redirects here. ... For the BBC radio station, see BBC Radio 1. ... BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which began in 1932. ... 576i is the shorthand name for a video mode. ... For other uses, see PAL (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Aspect ratio. ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year (86th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) and K-9. ... For plants known as torchwood, see Burseraceae. ... The Sarah Jane Adventures is a British television series, produced by BBC Wales for CBBC, starring Elisabeth Sladen and created by Russell T. Davies. ... For the Doctor Who character, see K-9 (Doctor Who). ... The Doctor Who Confidential logo Doctor Who Confidential is a documentary series created by the British Broadcasting Corporation to complement the revival of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Totally Doctor Who is a childrens television series produced by the BBC to accompany the science fiction series Doctor Who. ... Torchwood Declassified is a documentary series created by the British Broadcasting Corporation to complement the British science fiction television series Torchwood. ... Image File history File links Portal. ... A broadcast of the long-running and popular British science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... Time travel is a concept that has long fascinated humanity—whether it is Merlin experiencing time backwards, or religious traditions like Mohammeds trip to Jerusalem and ascent to heaven, returning before a glass knocked over had spilt its contents. ... The current TARDIS prop. ... A police box is a telephone kiosk or callbox for use by members of the police. ... Companion, in the long-running BBC television science fiction programme Doctor Who and related works, is a term used to describe a character who travels with and shares the adventures of the Doctor. ...


The programme is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world[1] and is also a significant part of British popular culture.[2][3][4] It has been recognised for its imaginative stories, creative low-budget special effects during its original run, and pioneering use of electronic music (originally produced by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop). In Britain and elsewhere, the show has become a cult television favourite and has influenced generations of British television professionals, many of whom grew up watching the series. It has received recognition from critics and the public as one of the finest British television programmes, including the BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series in 2006. Guinness World Records 2008 edition. ... Popular culture (or pop culture) is the widespread cultural elements in any given society that are perpetuated through that societys vernacular language or lingua franca. ... Special effects (also called SPFX or SFX) are used in the film, television, and entertainment industry to realize scenes that cannot be achieved by live action or normal means. ... The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, one of the sound effects units of the BBC, was created in 1958 to produce effects and new music for radio, and was closed in March 1998, although much of its traditional work had already been outsourced by 1995. ... This article does not discuss cultist groups, personality cults, or cult in its original sense of religious practice. See cult (disambiguation) for more meanings of the term cult. A cult following is a group of fans devoted to a specific area of pop culture. ... The British Academy Television Awards, also known as the BAFTAs or, to differentiate them from the BAFTA Film Awards, the BAFTA Television Awards, are the most prestigious awards given in the British television industry, analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States. ... The British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series is one of the major categories of the British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs), the primary awards ceremony of the British television industry. ...


The programme originally ran from 1963 to 1989. A television film was made in 1996 as a backdoor pilot for a new series (which never entered production), and the programme was successfully relaunched in 2005, produced in-house by BBC Wales. Some development money for the new series is contributed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), which is credited as a co-producer. Doctor Who has also spawned spin-offs in multiple media, including the current television programmes Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, and the 1981 pilot episode 'K-9 and company'. Doctor Who (film) redirects here. ... A television pilot is the first episode of an intended television series. ... The Doctor Who diamond logo, used in the shows opening titles from 1973 to 1980 Doctor Who is a British television science-fiction series, produced and screened by the British Broadcasting Corporation on their BBC One channel from 1963 to 1989 in its original form, with a new series... In-house refers to the production of some commodity or service, such as a television programme, using a companys own funds, staff or resources. ... BBC Wales (Welsh: ) is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. ... Radio-Canada redirects here. ... Doctor Who spin-offs refers to material created outside of, but related to, the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... For plants known as torchwood, see Burseraceae. ... The Sarah Jane Adventures is a British television series, produced by BBC Wales for CBBC, starring Elisabeth Sladen and created by Russell T. Davies. ...


The show's lead character is currently portrayed by David Tennant. A Christmas special co-starring Kylie Minogue aired in December 2007, and the fourth series started on 5 April 2008.[5] For that series, Catherine Tate reprised her role of Donna Noble, from the 2006 Christmas special, as the Doctor's latest companion.[6] Midway through the series, Freema Agyeman has also returned to her role of Martha Jones, following a multi-episode guest appearance in the Doctor Who spin-off series, Torchwood. John Barrowman will continue his role as Captain Jack Harkness,[7] and Billie Piper will return as Rose Tyler for three episodes.[8] Elisabeth Sladen is also set to return as Sarah Jane Smith.[9] David Tennant is the stage name of David John McDonald[1] (born 18 April 1971), a Scottish actor from Bathgate, West Lothian. ... Voyage of the Damned is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE (pronounced ,[1]mɪnoʊg;[2] born 28 May 1968) is an Australian Grammy and BRIT award-winning pop singer, songwriter and actress. ... is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the actress. ... Donna Noble is a fictional character played by Catherine Tate in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Runaway Bride is a special episode of the long running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, starring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor. ... Freema Agyeman (born 1 January 1979 in Finsbury Park, London[2] ) is an English actress of Ghanaian and Iranian descent whose first notable appearance was in the ITV soap opera Crossroads in 2001[1]. She is best known for playing medical student Martha Jones, companion of the Tenth Doctor in... Martha Jones is a fictional character played by Freema Agyeman in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and will appear in its spin-off series, Torchwood. ... For plants known as torchwood, see Burseraceae. ... John Barrowman (born 11 March 1967 in Mount Vernon, Glasgow, Scotland) is a Scottish actor, musical performer, dancer, singer, and TV presenter who has lived and worked both in the United Kingdom and the United States. ... For other persons and meanings, see Jack Harkness (disambiguation). ... Billie Paul Piper (born Leanne Paul Piper[1] on 22 September 1982) is an British actress. ... Rose Marion Tyler is a fictional character played by Billie Piper in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Elisabeth Sladen (born February 1, 1948, Liverpool, England) is an English actress best known for her work as the character Sarah Jane Smith on the television series Doctor Who and related spin-offs. ... Sarah Jane Smith is a fictional character played by Elisabeth Sladen in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its related spin-offs. ...

Contents

[edit] History

Main article: History of Doctor Who

Doctor Who first appeared on BBC television at 5:15 pm(GMT) on 23 November 1963,[10] following discussions and plans that had been in progress for a year. The Head of Drama, Sydney Newman, was mainly responsible for developing it, with the first format document for the series being written by Newman along with the Head of the Script Department (later Head of Serials) Donald Wilson and staff writer C. E. Webber. Writer Anthony Coburn, story editor David Whitaker and initial producer Verity Lambert also heavily contributed to the development of the series.[11][12][13] The series' title theme was composed by Ron Grainer and realised by Delia Derbyshire of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.[14] The programme was originally intended to appeal to a family audience.[15] The BBC drama department's Serials division produced the programme for 26 series, broadcast on BBC One. Viewing numbers that had fallen (though comparably increased at some points), a decline in the public perception of the show and a less prominent transmission slot saw production suspended in 1989 by Jonathan Powell, Controller of BBC One.[16] Although it was for all intents and purposes cancelled (as series co-star Sophie Aldred reported in the documentary Doctor Who: More Than 30 Years in the TARDIS), the BBC said the series would return. The Doctor Who diamond logo, used in the shows opening titles from 1973 to 1980 Doctor Who is a British television science-fiction series, produced and screened by the British Broadcasting Corporation on their BBC One channel from 1963 to 1989 in its original form, with a new series... GMT redirects here. ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... Cathy Come Home, a 1966 entry into The Wednesday Play anthology series, voted the best drama and second highest programme overall in the British Film Institutes 2000 survey of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes of the 20th century. ... Sydney Cecil Newman OC (April 1, 1917—October 30, 1997) was a Canadian film and television producer, best remembered for the pioneering work he undertook in British television drama from the late 1950s to the late 1960s. ... Donald Wilson (born September 1, 1910, Dunblane, Scotland; died March 6, 2002, Gloucestershire, England) was a British television writer and producer, best known for his work on the BBCs adaptation of The Forsyte Saga in 1967. ... Cecil Edwin Webber (known as C. E. Webber and nicknamed Bunny by his colleagues) was a British television writer. ... Anthony Coburn was an Australian United Kingdom. ... Script Editor is a program included with Mac OS that allows AppleScripts to be written, debugged, and ran. ... David Whitaker (b. ... The primary role of a television producer is to coordinate and control all aspects of production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking. ... Verity Lambert (born November 27, 1935 in London, England, UK) is a British television and film producer, best known for producing the science-fiction series Doctor Who for the BBC for its first two years, from 1963 to 1965. ... Ron Grainer (August 11, 1922 - February 21, 1981) was an Australian-born composer who worked for most of his professional career in the United Kingdom. ... Delia Ann Derbyshire (5 May 1937 - 3 July 2001) was a British musician and composer who was a pioneer of electronic music. ... The BBC Radiophonic Workshop, one of the sound effects units of the BBC, was created in 1958 to produce effects and new music for radio, and was closed in March 1998, although much of its traditional work had already been outsourced by 1995. ... For the BBC radio station, see BBC Radio 1. ... Jonathan Powell (born 1947) is a British television producer and executive. ... In television, cancellation refers to the termination of a program by the network, typically because of low viewership. ... Sophie Aldred with a fan at Dr. Who Signing in Newbury, Nov 2007 Sophie Aldred (born 20 August 1962) is an English actress and television presenter, best known for her portrayal of the Doctors assistant Ace in the television series Doctor Who. ...


While in-house production had ceased, the BBC was hopeful of finding an independent production company to relaunch the show. Philip Segal, a British expatriate who worked for Columbia Pictures' television arm in the United States, approached the BBC about such a venture. Segal's negotiations eventually led to a television movie. The Doctor Who television movie was broadcast on the Fox Network in 1996 as a co-production between Fox, Universal Pictures, the BBC, and BBC Worldwide. Although the film was successful in the UK (with 9.1 million viewers), it was less so in the United States and did not lead to a series. Philip David Segal was born in Essex, England in the 1958. ... For the band, see Expatriate (band). ... The Columbia Pictures logo from 1993 to the present Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. ... “Telefilm” redirects here. ... Doctor Who (film) redirects here. ... FOX redirects here. ... This article is about the American media conglomerate. ... BBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly-owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. ...


Licensed media such as novels and audio plays provided new stories, but as a television programme Doctor Who remained dormant until 2003. In September of that year, BBC Television announced the in-house production of a new series after several years of unsuccessful attempts by BBC Worldwide to find backing for a feature film version. The new incarnation of the series is executively produced by writer Russell T Davies and BBC Wales Head of Drama/BBC Television Controller of Drama Commissioning Julie Gardner. It has been sold to many other countries worldwide (see Viewership). Doctor Who spin-offs refers to material created outside of, but related to, the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which began in 1932. ... Russell T Davies, OBE (born Steven Russell Davies,[1] 27 April 1963), is a Welsh television producer and writer. ... BBC Wales (Welsh: ) is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. ... She was born on September 3, 1981 in Richmond, Virginia. ...


The new series debuted with the episode "Rose" on BBC One on 26 March 2005. There have been two further series in 2006 and 2007, and Christmas Day specials in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The fourth series began on BBC One on 5 April 2008. There will be a rest year in 2009, with no new series, although David Tennant will star in 3 specials in that year. After the 2008 Christmas special and three special episodes in 2009, a fifth full-length series is planned for Spring 2010,[17] with Steven Moffat replacing Davies as head writer and executive producer.[18] Rose is an episode in the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on 26 March 2005. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year (86th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Steven Moffat (born 1961 in Paisley, Scotland) is a British comedy/drama writer who has contributed to television series since the late 1980s. ...


While the 2005-present version of Doctor Who is considered a direct continuation of the 1963-89 series, the 1996 telefilm is also considered part of the overall continuity. This differs from other series relaunches that have either been reimaginings or reboots (e.g., Battlestar Galactica and Bionic Woman) or series taking place in the same universe as the original but with a totally new cast of characters (e.g., Star Trek: The Next Generation and spin-offs).[19] This article is about the 2004 television series. ... This article is about the 2007 series. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ...


[edit] Public consciousness

A multicoloured variant of the familiar Doctor Who diamond logo which was used in the show's titles from Seasons 11 to 17. This version was widely used on merchandise for years afterwards.
A multicoloured variant of the familiar Doctor Who diamond logo which was used in the show's titles from Seasons 11 to 17. This version was widely used on merchandise for years afterwards.

The programme rapidly became a national institution, the subject of countless jokes, newspaper mentions and other popular culture references.[20][21] Many renowned actors asked for or were offered and accepted guest starring roles in various stories. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Many celebrities and notable actors have made guest appearances in Doctor Who. ...


With popularity came controversy over the show's suitability for children. Moral campaigner Mary Whitehouse repeatedly complained to the BBC in the 1970s over what she saw as the show's frightening or gory content.[22] The programme became even more popular - especially with children. John Nathan-Turner, who produced the series during the 1980s, was heard to say that he looked forward to Whitehouse's comments, as the show's ratings would increase soon after she had made them.[23] During the 1970s, the Radio Times, the BBC's listings magazine, announced that a child's mother said the theme music terrified her son. The Radio Times was apologetic, but the theme music remained. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... John Nathan-Turner. ... Current Radio Times logo Radio Times is the BBCs weekly television and radio programme listings magazine. ... A listings magazine is a magazine which contains information about the upcoming weeks events such as TV Listings, Music, Clubs, Theatre and Film information, examples include Time Out magazine in the UK. These are normally published either with a Saturday or Sunday newspaper or are published weekly to give information...


There were more complaints about the programme's content than its music. During Jon Pertwee's second season as the Doctor, in the serial "Terror of the Autons" (1971), images of murderous plastic dolls, daffodils killing unsuspecting victims and blank-featured android policemen marked the apex of the show's ability to frighten children. Other notable moments in that decade included the Doctor's apparently being drowned by Chancellor Goth in "The Deadly Assassin" (1976) and the allegedly negative portrayal of Chinese people in "The Talons of Weng-Chiang" (1977). John Devon Roland Pertwee (7 July 1919 – 20 May 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was an English actor. ... Doctor Who episodes redirects here. ... Terror of the Autons is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from January 2 to January 23, 1971. ... The Deadly Assassin is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from October 30 to November 20, 1976. ... The Talons of Weng-Chiang is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from February 26 to April 2, 1977. ...


It has been said that watching Doctor Who from a position of safety "behind the sofa" (as the Doctor Who exhibition at the Museum of the Moving Image in London was titled) and peering cautiously out to see if the frightening part was over is one of the great shared experiences of British childhood. The phrase has become commonly used in association with the programme and occasionally elsewhere. Behind the sofa is a British pop culture phrase, used as a metaphor to describe the actions that a state of fear may drive a person to — i. ... The Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI) was a museum of the history of moving picture technology and media, including cinema and its forerunners, opened in 1988 and sited below Waterloo Bridge and forming part of the cultural complex on the South Bank of the River Thames, London. ...

The Mark II fibreglass TARDIS used between 1980 and 1989.
The Mark II fibreglass TARDIS used between 1980 and 1989.

A BBC audience research survey conducted in 1972 found that by their own definition of "any act(s) which may cause physical and / or psychological injury, hurt or death to persons, animals or property, whether intentional or accidental", Doctor Who was the most violent of all the drama programmes the corporation then produced.[24] The same report found that 3% of the surveyed audience regarded the show as "very unsuitable" for family viewing.[25] However, responding to the findings of the survey in The Times newspaper, journalist Philip Howard maintained that: "to compare the violence of Dr Who, sired by a horse-laugh out of a nightmare, with the more realistic violence of other television series, where actors who look like human beings bleed paint that looks like blood, is like comparing Monopoly with the property market in London: both are fantasies, but one is meant to be taken seriously."[24] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The current TARDIS prop. ... For other uses, see Times. ... This article is about the board game. ...


The image of the TARDIS has become firmly linked to the show in the public's consciousness. In 1996, the BBC applied for a trademark to use the TARDIS' blue police box design in merchandising associated with Doctor Who.[26] In 1998, the Metropolitan Police filed an objection to the trademark claim; in 2002 the Patent Office ruled in favour of the BBC,[27][28] indicating that the police box image was more associated with Doctor Who than with the police.[29] The current TARDIS prop. ... “(TM)” redirects here. ... A police box is a telephone kiosk or callbox for use by members of the police. ... The UK Intellectual Property Office, or UK-IPO, formerly known as The Patent Office,[1] is the lead United Kingdom government agency responsible for developing and administering policy in most areas of intellectual property, under the overall aegis of the Department of Trade and Industry. ...


The 21st-century revival of the programme has become the centrepiece of BBC One's Saturday schedule, and has "defined the channel".[30] In 2007, Caitlin Moran, television reviewer for The Times, wrote that Doctor Who is "quintessential to being British".[4] Caitlin Moran (b. ... For other uses, see Times. ...


[edit] Episodes

Further information: List of Doctor Who serials
Further information: List of titled Doctor Who episodes

Doctor Who originally ran for 26 seasons on BBC One, from 23 November 1963 until 6 December 1989. During the original run, each weekly episode formed part of a story (or "serial") — usually of four to six parts in earlier years and three to four in later years. Notable exceptions were the epic The Daleks' Master Plan, which aired in twelve episodes (plus an earlier one-episode teaser, "Mission to the Unknown", featuring none of the regular cast),[31][32] almost an entire season of 7-episode serials (season 7), the 10-episode serial The War Games[33], and The Trial of a Time Lord, which ran for 14 episodes (albeit divided into three production codes and four narrative segments) during Season 23.[34] Occasionally serials were loosely connected by a storyline, such as Season 16's quest for The Key to Time or Season 18's journey through E-Space and the theme of entropy. Doctor Who episodes redirects here. ... This is a list of titled episodes in the early years of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Doctor Who episodes redirects here. ... For the BBC radio station, see BBC Radio 1. ... is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses of Serial, see Serial (disambiguation). ... The Daleks Master Plan is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in twelve weekly parts from November 13, 1965 to January 29, 1966. ... Mission to the Unknown is a single-episode Doctor Who story. ... This article is about the Doctor Who serial. ... The Trial of a Time Lord is the on-screen title for all fourteen episodes comprising the 23rd season (1986) of the original Doctor Who series. ... Doctor Who episodes redirects here. ... Doctor Who episodes redirects here. ... The Key to Time is the umbrella title for a story arc that links all six serials of Season 16 of Doctor Who. ... Doctor Who episodes redirects here. ... The level of hyperspace in which memetic life forms are able to live in David Brins Uplift series. ...


The programme was intended to be educational and for family viewing on the early Saturday evening schedule. Initially, it alternated stories set in the past, which would teach younger audience members about history, with stories set either in the future or in outer space to teach them about science. This was also reflected in the Doctor's original companions, one of whom was a science teacher and another a history teacher.


However, science fiction stories came to dominate the programme and the "historicals", which were not popular with the production team, were dropped after The Highlanders (1967). While the show continued to use historical settings, they were generally used as a backdrop for science fiction tales, with one exception: Black Orchid set in 1920s Britain.[35] The Highlanders is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from December 17, 1966 to January 7, 1967. ... Black Orchid is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two parts on March 1 and March 2, 1982. ...


The early stories were more serial-like in nature, with the narrative of one story flowing into the next, and each episode having its own title, although produced as distinct stories with their own production codes. Following The Gunfighters (1966), however, each serial was given its own title, with the individual parts simply being assigned episode numbers. What to name these earlier stories is often a subject of fan debate. The Gunfighters is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from April 30 to May 21, 1966. ... Fans of the BBC television series Doctor Who disagree as to what certain stories should be called. ...


Writers during the original run included Terry Nation, Henry Lincoln, Douglas Adams, Robert Holmes, Terrance Dicks, Dennis Spooner, Eric Saward, Malcolm Hulke, Christopher H. Bidmead, Stephen Gallagher, Brian Hayles, Chris Boucher, Peter Grimwade, Marc Platt and Ben Aaronovitch. Terry Nation (August 8, 1930 – March 9, 1997) was a British television screenwriter and is probably best known for creating the villainous Daleks for the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Henry Lincoln (born 1930) is the most popular pseudonym of Henry Soskin, an English writer and actor. ... Douglas Noël Adams (11 March 1952 – 11 May 2001) was an English author, comic radio dramatist, and musician. ... This entry is about the television scriptwriter. ... Terrance Dicks (born 1935 in East Ham, London) is an English writer, best known for his work in television and for writing a large number of popular childrens books during the 1970s and 80s. ... Dennis Spooner (born 1 December 1932 in Tottenham London; died 20 September 1986) was a British television scriptwriter, known for his ability to write to order if necessary, who created the classic British television series Man in a Suitcase, The Champions and The Adventurer, as well as writing for others... Eric Saward (pronounced SAY-ward) was born in December 1944 and became a script writer and script editor for the BBC, resigning from the latter post on the TV programme Doctor Who in 1986. ... Malcolm Hulke (died July 6, 1979) was a British television writer, notable for his work on the science fiction series Doctor Who. ... Christopher Hamilton Bidmead (born 1941) is a freelance writer. ... Stephen Gallagher (born 13 October 1954 in Salford Lancashire) is a British writer. ... This biographical article needs to be wikified. ... Chris Boucher Chris Boucher (born 1943) is a British television writer, best known for his frequent contributions to two genres, science-fiction and crime dramas. ... Peter Grimwade (died May 15th 1990) was a British television writer and director, best known for his work on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Marc Platt Marc Platt is a British writer. ... Ben Denis Aaronovitch (born 1964) is a London-born British writer who has worked on television series including Doctor Who, Casualty, Jupiter Moon and Dark Knight. ...


The serial format changed for the 2005 revival, with each series consisting of thirteen 45-minute, self-contained episodes (60 minutes, with adverts, on overseas commercial channels). Each series includes several standalone and multi-part stories, linked with a loose story arc that resolves in the series finale. As in the early "classic" era, each episode — whether standalone or part of a larger story — has its own title. Doctor Who episodes redirects here. ...


747 Doctor Who instalments have been televised since 1963, ranging from 25-minute episodes (the most common format), to 45-minute episodes (for Resurrection of the Daleks in the 1984 series, a single season in 1985, and the revival), to two feature-length productions (1983's "The Five Doctors" and the 1996 television movie), to the two 60-minute Christmas specials produced for the revival and the more recent 72 minute 2007 Christmas Special. Resurrection of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts from February 8 to February 15, 1984. ... The Five Doctors was a special movie-length episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced in celebration of the programmes twentieth anniversary. ... Doctor Who (film) redirects here. ... A Christmas television special is typically a one_time, 30 minute animated program aired during the Christmas season. ...


The current series is recorded in 576i25 DigiBeta wide-screen format and then filmised to give a 25p image in post-production using a Snell & Wilcox Alchemist Platinum. Sony Betacam-SP VTP BVW-65 Betacam and VHS size comparison Betacam SP L (top), Betacam SP S (left), VHS (right) The early form of Betacam tapes are interchangeable with Betamax, though the recordings are not. ... Filmizing (a. ... Snell & Wilcox is a company that design and develop infrastructure solutions for digital media markets. ...


[edit] Missing episodes

The First Doctor (William Hartnell) collapses prior to his regeneration. (From the surviving clip of The Tenth Planet, episode 4.)
The First Doctor (William Hartnell) collapses prior to his regeneration. (From the surviving clip of The Tenth Planet, episode 4.)

Between about 1967 and 1978, large amounts of older material stored in the BBC's various video tape and film libraries were either destroyed[36] or simply wiped. This included many old episodes of Doctor Who, mostly stories featuring the first three Doctors — William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee. Following consolidations and recoveries the archives are complete from the programme's move to colour television (starting from Jon Pertwee's time as the Doctor), although a few Pertwee episodes have required substantial restoration; a handful have been recovered only as black and white films, and several survive in colour only as NTSC copies recovered from North America (a few of which are domestic, off-air Betamax tape recordings, not transmission quality). In all, 108 of 253 episodes produced during the first six years of the programme are not held in the BBC's archives. It has been reported that in 1972 almost all episodes then made were known to exist at the BBC,[37] whilst by 1978 the practice of wiping tapes had ended.[38] Material from missing Doctor Who serials has seen release in books, and in audio form on CD, and two episodes have been animated for DVD release. ... The start of the First Doctors regeneration scene, from the missing Doctor Who serial The Tenth Planet. ... The start of the First Doctors regeneration scene, from the missing Doctor Who serial The Tenth Planet. ... Wiping or junking is an economic move by radio and television companies in which old audiotapes, videotapes and telerecordings (kinescopes), which were extremely expensive in the 1960s and 1970s, are erased and reused, or destroyed after several uses. ... For the Californio, see William Edward Petty Hartnell. ... Patrick George Troughton (25 March 1920 – 28 March 1987) was a versatile and prolific English actor known in his role as the second incarnation of the Doctor in the long running British science-fiction television series Doctor Who, which he played from 1966 until 1969. ... John Devon Roland Pertwee (7 July 1919 – 20 May 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was an English actor. ... NTSC is the analog television system in use in the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and some other countries (see map). ... This is a list of Doctor Who serials that, as far as is known, no longer exist in the form that they were transmitted (that is, serials that are incomplete in the archives). ...


Some episodes have been returned to the BBC from the archives of other countries who bought copies for broadcast, or by private individuals who got them by various means. Early colour videotape recordings made off-air by fans have also been retrieved, as well as excerpts filmed from the television screen onto 8 mm cine film and clips that were shown on other programmes. Audio versions of all of the lost episodes exist from home viewers who made tape recordings of the show. Ciné (sometimes Cine) is usually used to refer to one or more of the home movie formats including 8 mm, 9. ...


In addition to these, there are off-screen photographs made by photographer John Cura, who was hired by various production personnel to document many of their programmes during the 1950s and 1960s, including Doctor Who. These have been used in fan reconstructions of the serials. These amateur reconstructions have been tolerated by the BBC, provided they are not sold for profit and are distributed as low quality VHS copies. Alberto Giovanni Cura, better known as Albert John Cura or John Cura was born on 9 April 1902 in London, UK and died of colon cancer on 21 April 1969, in London, UK. Cura was a musician, having led a dance band in the 1930s, was enlisted in the Royal... Material from missing Doctor Who serials has seen release in books, and in audio form on CD, and two episodes have been animated for DVD release. ...

The animated reconstruction of The Invasion
The animated reconstruction of The Invasion

One of the most sought-after lost episodes is Part Four of the last William Hartnell serial, The Tenth Planet (1966), which ends with the First Doctor transforming into the Second. The only portion of this in existence, barring a few poor quality silent 8 mm clips, is the few seconds of the regeneration scene, as it was shown on the children's magazine show Blue Peter. With the approval of the BBC, efforts are now under way to restore as many of the episodes as possible from the extant material. Starting in the early 1990s, the BBC began to release audio recordings of missing serials on cassette and compact disc, with linking narration provided by former series actors. "Official" reconstructions have also been released by the BBC on VHS, on MP3 CD-ROM and as a special feature on a DVD. The BBC, in conjunction with animation studio Cosgrove Hall has reconstructed the missing Episodes 1 and 4 of The Invasion (1968) in animated form, using remastered audio tracks and the comprehensive stage notes for the original filming, for the serial's DVD release in November 2006. Although no similar reconstructions have been announced as of early 2007, Cosgrove Hall has expressed an interest in animating more lost episodes in the future,[39] despite the announcement in April 2007 that this project is on indefinite hiatus. Image File history File links Anim_doczoe. ... Image File history File links Anim_doczoe. ... The Invasion is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in eight weekly parts from November 2 to December 21, 1968. ... The Tenth Planet is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from October 8 to October 29, 1966. ... The First Doctor is the name given to the first incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... The Second Doctor is the name given to the second incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... For other uses, see Blue Peter (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see MP3 (disambiguation). ... The CD-ROM (an abbreviation for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (ROM)) is a non-volatile optical data storage medium using the same physical format as audio compact discs, readable by a computer with a CD-ROM drive. ... Cosgrove Hall Films is an animation studio based in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester that is a major producer of childrens television programmes. ... The Invasion is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in eight weekly parts from November 2 to December 21, 1968. ...


In April 2006, Blue Peter launched a challenge to find these missing episodes with the promise of a full scale Dalek model.[40] This article is about the fictional species. ...


[edit] Characters

[edit] The Doctor

Main article: Doctor (Doctor Who)

The character of the Doctor was initially shrouded in mystery. All that was known about him in the programme's early days was that he was an eccentric alien traveller of great intelligence who battled injustice while exploring time and space in an unreliable old time machine called the TARDIS, an acronym for Time And Relative Dimension(s) In Space. The TARDIS is much larger on the inside than on the outside[41], and, due to a malfunction of its Chameleon Circuit, is stuck in the shape of a 1950s-style British police box. This article is about the character of the Doctor. ... Image File history File links 10dr19. ... Image File history File links 10dr19. ... For the Californio, see William Edward Petty Hartnell. ... Patrick George Troughton (25 March 1920 – 28 March 1987) was a versatile and prolific English actor known in his role as the second incarnation of the Doctor in the long running British science-fiction television series Doctor Who, which he played from 1966 until 1969. ... John Devon Roland Pertwee (7 July 1919 – 20 May 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was an English actor. ... For other persons named Tom Baker, see Tom Baker (disambiguation). ... Peter Davison (born Peter Moffett 13 April 1951) is an English actor, best known for his roles as Tristan Farnon in the television version of James Herriots All Creatures Great and Small and as the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, which he played from 1981 to... For the Wales international football player see Colin Baker (Welsh footballer) Colin Baker (born London, June 8, 1943) is an English actor who is best known for playing the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, from 1984 to 1986. ... Sylvester McCoy (born Percy James Patrick Kent-Smith August 20, 1943) is a Scottish actor. ... Paul McGann (born November 14, 1959 in Surrey, England, United Kingdom) is an English actor who made his name on the BBC serial The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role. ... Christopher Eccleston (born 16 February 1964) is an English stage, television and film actor. ... David Tennant is the stage name of David John McDonald[1] (born 18 April 1971), a Scottish actor from Bathgate, West Lothian. ... The current TARDIS prop. ... A Chameleon Circuit is a fictional device from the television sci-fi series Doctor Who. ... A police box is a telephone kiosk or callbox for use by members of the police. ...


However, not only did the initially irascible and slightly sinister Doctor quickly mellow into a more compassionate figure, it was eventually revealed that he had been on the run from his own people, the Time Lords of the planet Gallifrey. This article is about the Time Lords from Doctor Who. ... This article is about the fictional planet. ...


As a Time Lord, the Doctor has the ability to regenerate his body when near death. Introduced into the storyline as a way of continuing the series when the writers were faced with the departure of lead actor William Hartnell in 1966, it has continued to be a major element of the series, allowing for the recasting of the lead actor when the need arises. The serial The Deadly Assassin established that a Time Lord can regenerate twelve times, for a total of thirteen incarnations (although at least one Time Lord, The Master, has managed to circumvent this). To date, the Doctor has gone through this process and its resulting after-effects on nine occasions, with each of his incarnations having his own quirks and abilities but otherwise sharing the memories and experience of the previous incarnations: Regeneration, in the context of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, is a biological ability exhibited by the Time Lords, a race of humanoids originating on the planet Gallifrey. ... For the Californio, see William Edward Petty Hartnell. ... The Deadly Assassin is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from October 30 to November 20, 1976. ... This article is about the character. ...

  1. First Doctor, played by William Hartnell (1963–1966)
  2. Second Doctor, played by Patrick Troughton (1966–1969)
  3. Third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee (1970–1974)
  4. Fourth Doctor, played by Tom Baker (1974–1981)
  5. Fifth Doctor, played by Peter Davison (1981–1984)
  6. Sixth Doctor, played by Colin Baker (1984–1986)
  7. Seventh Doctor, played by Sylvester McCoy (1987–1989, 1996)[42][43][44]
  8. Eighth Doctor, played by Paul McGann (1996)
  9. Ninth Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston (2005)
  10. Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant (2005–present)

Other actors have also played the Doctor, though rarely more than once (see the list of actors who have played the Doctor). The First Doctor is the name given to the first incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... For the Californio, see William Edward Petty Hartnell. ... The Second Doctor is the name given to the second incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Patrick George Troughton (25 March 1920 – 28 March 1987) was a versatile and prolific English actor known in his role as the second incarnation of the Doctor in the long running British science-fiction television series Doctor Who, which he played from 1966 until 1969. ... The Third Doctor is the name given to the third incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... John Devon Roland Pertwee (7 July 1919 – 20 May 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was an English actor. ... The Fourth Doctor is the name given to the fourth incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... For other persons named Tom Baker, see Tom Baker (disambiguation). ... The Fifth Doctor is the name given to the fifth incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Peter Davison (born Peter Moffett 13 April 1951) is an English actor, best known for his roles as Tristan Farnon in the television version of James Herriots All Creatures Great and Small and as the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, which he played from 1981 to... The Sixth Doctor is the name given to the sixth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... For the Wales international football player see Colin Baker (Welsh footballer) Colin Baker (born London, June 8, 1943) is an English actor who is best known for playing the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, from 1984 to 1986. ... The Seventh Doctor is a fictional character, the seventh incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Sylvester McCoy (born Percy James Patrick Kent-Smith August 20, 1943) is a Scottish actor. ... The Eighth Doctor is a fictional character, the eighth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Paul McGann (born November 14, 1959 in Surrey, England, United Kingdom) is an English actor who made his name on the BBC serial The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role. ... The Ninth Doctor refers to the ninth official incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor, in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Christopher Eccleston (born 16 February 1964) is an English stage, television and film actor. ... The Tenth Doctor is the name given to the tenth and current incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... David Tennant is the stage name of David John McDonald[1] (born 18 April 1971), a Scottish actor from Bathgate, West Lothian. ... The ten faces of the Doctor on television Clockwise from top-left: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. ...


Despite these shifts in personality, the Doctor remains an intensely curious and highly moral adventurer who would rather solve problems with his wits than by using violence.


Throughout the programme's long history there have been controversial revelations about the Doctor. For example, in The Brain of Morbius (1976), it was hinted that the First Doctor may not have been the Doctor's f