TV Needs It's Timelord
Last updated: 12/10/2006 - 12:15
Forty one years old this year, the childrens own time travel series that adults adore is set for a TV revival for 2005.
Teatime sci-fi classic Doctor Who, featuring arguably Britain’s best-loved eccentric is coming back – and it’s about time.
With the tension mounting as BBC TV’s Doctor Who gets set to return to our screens next year, we take a look back at the intergalactic triumphs and tribulations of the nation’s favourite long scarf wearing, robot dog owning, sonic screwdriver wielding, jelly baby munching, Police box piloting, time travelling GP...
"There are some corners of the universe that have bred the most dreadful things. Things which act against everything we believe in. They must be fought." The Doctor - Patrick Troughton, The War Games (1966)
When the announcement came in September last year that the Doctor, one of the BBC's best-loved and most enduring characters, is set to return in a series of brand new twenty first century adventures on BBC ONE, it confirmed in the minds of fans and ordinary viewers what they’ve suspected all along: TV needs it’s Timelord.
With its origins in the white heat of the technological revolution of the 1960s the series has referenced everything from Nigel Kneale’s Quatermass serials of the 1950’s – and the subsequent films – to a vast array of broader adventure and genre fiction. The series – at it’s best – can be a genuine treasure trove of adventure storytelling, which the new producers of the show will need to work hard to achieve.
Doctor Who, a perennial favourite with TV audiences, is the longest-running science fiction adventure series in the world, and still appears twice a week on the digital channel UK Gold.
Debut
The show made its debut on BBC Television on the evening of 23 November 1963 - the day of president Kennedy's assassination - and it was an instant, massive, hit. Few would have predicted that impact, or dared to dream that the series would remain in production for over 30 years. But that’s exactly what happened.
The excitement generated by the sensational debut of the Daleks, one month after the start of the series, was due largely to their inspired, now iconic, design (they are still recognised by more than 90% of the general public, and appear in the Oxford English Dictionary as a synonym for fascism).
Equally famous, the Cybermen (who debuted in 1966) pre-date Star Trek’s uncannily similar race, the Borg, by more than 20 years. It is no surprise; therefore, that Doctor Who quickly became a national institution.
The series has drawn upon everything from the gothic horror of the printed page – in particular H.P Lovecraft’s Cthulu Mythos cycle - Bram Stoker’s Dracula, H.G Wells’ celebrated Scientific Romances (most especially the novels The Time Machine and War Of The Worlds), the works of Conan Doyle and the high adventures of the likes of Rider Haggard, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Jules Verne.
Away from the printed page the series has variously borrowed, sent-up and paid homage to the historical and fantastic settings portrayed so often in Hammer films, 50’s B-movies and even – late in it’s life, and perhaps unwisely – the glossy, US science fiction of Star Trek and it’s ilk.
It seems that even the Members of the House share an affection for the series – with MPs recently being polled by the BBC as to what they thought of arguably Britain’s greatest home-grown science fiction concept. One hundred and thirty MPs responded to the poll, many of them showing huge enthusiasm for this uniquely British institution.
When asked to decide who should be the next TV Doctor, Members of Parliament across and within Party lines, were – somewhat predictably – divided.
Stephen Fry, multi-talented star of BBC drama Absolute Power, BBC quiz show Qi, novelist and director of Bright Young Things, received the largest number of votes. He came in ahead of Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, David Jason and former Doctor (fourth incarnation) Tom Baker. A total of 78 different names were suggested by MPs, including Eddie Izzard, Hugh Laurie and David Bowie.
Interestingly female names put forward were Zoe Wanamaker and Joanna Lumley as joint female favourites, with runners up Caroline Quentin, Catherine Zeta Jones, Carol Vorderman, Kate O'Mara, Patricia Routledge and Dawn French.
Some of the more unexpected nominations included University Challenge’s Jeremy Paxman and Conservatives William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith, as well as veteran radio DJ John Peel.
When asked to say which monster from the 40 year history of the show were the scariest, the MPs came up with a good scattering of names. 95% were aware of the Daleks, 86% of the Cybermen and 55% of the Ice Warriors. A third of MPs were familiar with 'Giant Maggots' (from the 70s Jon Pertwee story The Green Death), and 45% had heard of the amphibious Sea Devils, but it was the Daleks – of course - who were voted the scariest.
The Dreaded Daleks
Of those who were aware of the Daleks, 38% said they were the most frightening. The Cybermen came second, with 26% nominating them as the most frightening. Of the much smaller number who knew about the Giant Maggots (just 42), a quarter found them the most frightening. In some cases, fear was enough to send them scuttling behind the sofa for safety. Thirty-seven MPs (28% of the total) claimed that they had hidden behind the sofa while watching Doctor Who.
Who’s Your Favourite?
The fourth and most long-serving Doctor, Tom Baker, was voted their favourite Doctor by 44 MPs (34% of the total), making him easily the most popular Doctor in the House. The third Doctor, Jon Pertwee, came second, with 32 votes (25%), and in third place was Patrick Troughton, the second Doctor, with 24 votes (18%).
When asked, to finish this sentence: ‘Doctor Who is an example of Great British Television because...’ many MPs said it was; innovative, groundbreaking, original, unique and creative, with 36 MPs (28 %) putting it into this category. Twenty-six MPs (20%) said they valued it because it had family appeal and the ability to appeal to new generations.
Seventeen (13%) found it funny, amusing or endearing, 16 (12%) said it was well written with good storylines, 14 (11%) said it was classic and timeless, while 11 (8%) said it provided good value for money. Six MPs (5%) found it addictive, compulsive or unmissable.
Things To Come
And so, what of the future of the Doctor’s adventures – and the new BBC ONE series? Lorraine Heggessey, Controller of BBC ONE has officially said that all rights issues regarding Doctor Who have been resolved and that she has green-lit scripts from award-winning writer Russell T Davies. Davies's writing credits include Bob and Rose, Queer as Folk, The Second Coming, Touching Evil (with Paul Abbott) and The Grand.
She added that although it is far too early in the day to discuss possible storylines, characters, villains or who might play the Time Lord – and it is unlikely anything will be on screen for at least two years - it has been confirmed that Doctor Who will be produced by BBC Wales in conjunction with Mal Young, Controller of BBC Continuing Series.
The executive producers will be Mal Young, Russell T. Davies and Julie Gardner, Head of Drama BBC Wales. Mal Young says: "Doctor Who is a much-loved, truly iconic piece of television history. It's time to crank up the TARDIS and find out what lies in store for The Doctor.
"We're thrilled to have a writer of Russell's calibre to take us on this journey. However, we're at the very first stages of development and further details, including casting, will not be available for some time."
Writer Russell T Davies, who grew up in Swansea and lives in Manchester, says: "I grew up watching Doctor Who, hiding behind the sofa like so many others. Doctor Who is one of the BBC's most exciting and original characters. He's had a good rest and now it's time to bring him back!
"The new series will be fun, exciting, contemporary and scary. Although I'm only in the early stages of development, I'm aiming to write a full-blooded drama which embraces the Doctor Who heritage, at the same time as introducing the character to a modern audience. No budget has been set for the new series; the number of episodes and their duration is under discussion. It will be a family show, but no details are available as to when it will be scheduled.”
“Time will tell, aboard the TARDIS, it usually does.” The Fifth Doctor.
For all the latest news on ongoing developments towards the new series of Doctor Who, visit BBC Cult TV.
Andrew Beech discusses the ongoing legacy of Doctor Who
Why do the tea-time travels of the Time Lord have such enduring appeal, asks Andrew Beech, project manager of BBC Worldwide’s 40th Anniversary campaign. Here, he argues that, quite simply, the series’ format and its central character encapsulate and showcase the essence of British eccentricity.
From the very start, Doctor Who broke new ground and confounded audience expectations. The idea of an elderly man, exiled from his own world with his granddaughter and travelling through time and space in a TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space) was, and remains, unique. The TARDIS itself, the most sophisticated travelling device imaginable, appeared to be an everyday Sixties London street object. This surreal quality was a linchpin of the show’s success.
Over the years, a steady stream of facts have added to the mythology of the central character. The Doctor is a renegade Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey. The Time Lords are an immensely powerful race, so named because they were the first to discover how to travel freely through time and space.
Early attempts to use their superior abilities to help other civilisations proved disastrous, so the Time Lords swore to remain passive observers of the cosmos; they gather knowledge but never interfere. Bored with his life on Gallifrey, the Doctor ‘borrowed’ his TARDIS and set off to explore the universe. But since he believes passionately in truth and justice, he cannot help but become embroiled in the situations of evil and injustice which he encounters so often.
Although appearing similar, Time Lords are very different from humans. Amongst other peculiarities they have two hearts, a body temperature of only 60 degrees Fahrenheit and a respiratory bypass system. Amazingly, they also have the ability to ‘regenerate’ their body when facing death, giving them many ‘lives’ as different personalities. This offbeat and ingenious plot device enabled the replacement of the ailing actor who first played the Doctor – something previously unheard of – in a manner more plausible than any other TV series has managed since. It is this concept which allowed the series to run for so long – eight actors having played the Doctor (so far).
Deductions
Mercurial and mischievous, Patrick Troughton’s second Doctor (5.11.66-21.6.69) was an engaging 'cosmic hobo', but with a hidden dark side. Although sometimes making mistakes, he always managed to keep one step ahead of his enemies. An air of child-like curiosity and his occasional buffoonery hid a formidable intelligence, a razor sharp wit and a penchant for devastating putdowns.
Asked by an arrogant opponent what is his 'special technique' for solving problems, he responds: "Keeping my eyes open and my mouth shut!" The Second Doctor - Patrick Troughton, The Tomb Of The Cybermen, 1967)
Capricious and irascible, William Hartnell’s portrayal of the first Doctor (23.11.63-29.10.66) combined the proverbial angry impatience of the very old with a genuine ‘grandfatherly’ affection for his companions. He was also incredibly stubborn – it was impossible to know whether the mischief he caused so frequently was due to senility or a studied technique employed skilfully to get his own way. Aloof and infinitely experienced, he revelled in his role of moral guardian and sage.
“You wanted advice, you said. I never give it. Never. But I might just say this for you. Always search for truth. My truth is in the stars, and yours...is here.” The First Doctor - William Hartnell, The Daleks, February 1964.
Autocratic and flamboyant, Jon Pertwee’s Doctor (3.1.70-8.6.74) called upon all manner of gadgets and “hi-tech” equipment to battle invading alien hordes. Helicopters, hovercraft, motorbikes, speedboats and cars – from ‘souped-up’ vintage yellow roadster ‘Bessie’ to the futuristic ‘Whomobile’ – enabled this dandy Doctor to mix James Bond action sequences with philosophical reflection. His respect for intelligent alien races was all too apparent, as was his disgust when human expediency saw them so often killed needlessly.
Some of these stories verge on Buddhist parable “We are all apt to submit ourselves to domination...Not all spiders sit on the back.” The Third Doctor – Jon Pertwee, Planet Of The Spiders, June, 1974.
Charismatic and unpredictable, Tom Baker played the fourth Doctor (28.12.74-21.3.81) in the style of an itinerant bohemian with an acerbic wit.
“You know, you’re a classic example of the inverse ratio of the size of the mouth to the size of the brain.” The Fourth Doctor - Tom Baker, The Robots Of Death, February 1977.
The TARDIS and the Daleks aside, the fourth Doctor’s floppy hat and unending scarf are perhaps one of the series’ most enduring images. This longest-serving Doctor – he played the role for seven years – had a very definite cause to fight and was, arguably, the most eccentric of them all. Confronted by a band of armed savages, his bluff solution is oddball, but effective.
"Now drop your weapons, or I’ll kill him with this deadly jelly-baby!" The Fourth Doctor – Tom Baker, The Face Of Evil, January, 1977.
This Charming Man
Fretful, uncertain and dressed in Edwardian cricket garb, Peter Davison’s more restrained performance of the role (4.1.82-16.3.83) brought a much greater air of vulnerability to the Doctor. But in times of danger his innate bravery still enabled him to square up to his opponents, perhaps most memorably a powerful Cyberleader, in an argument about the significance of emotions (“For some people, small beautiful events are what life is all about!” Earthshock, March 1982).And, ultimately, this Doctor knowingly sacrificed his own life for that of his companion.
Assertive and loquacious, Colin Baker’s interpretation of the sixth Doctor (5.1.84-6.12.86) was much larger than life, the character almost as colourful as his lurid costume. His regeneration had not been smooth and there was always an edge of volatility to the personality. Certainly this Doctor was the most committed to resisting oppression and the most combative and passionate when faced with injustice.
“The very core of my being is on fire with guilt and rage!” The Sixth Doctor - Colin Baker, The Twin Dilemma, March 1984.
A Darker Doctor?
Devious and sometimes almost sinister, Sylvester McCoy’s Doctor (9.7.87-6.12.89) was, once again, a figure of mystery. He demonstrated phenomenal powers of prescience and persuasion, becoming an arch-manipulator of the major forces of creation; but on other memorable occasions his soul was revealed to be that of a poet
“I loathe bus stations...terrible places…full of lost luggage and lost souls. And then there’s unrequited love...and tyranny...and cruelty. We all have a universe of our own terrors to face.” The Seventh Doctor - Sylvester McCoy, Ghost Light, October 1989.
The silence following transmission of the final BBC TV episode on 6 December 1989 was broken by a BBC/20th Century Fox Television co-production starring Paul McGann in 1996 (Doctor Who: The Movie).The most classically handsome incarnation to date, this eighth Doctor combined many of the traits of his predecessors. A child-like quality and the capacity to be distracted by what seems trivial mask the profound knowledge and ancient wisdom which his youthful appearance belies
“I love human beings...forever seeing patterns in things that aren’t there!” The Eighth Doctor - Paul McGann, TV Movie (1996).
Companions
Companions, accomplices, assistants – call them what you will – there have been close to 30, all of whom have had their lives changed beyond recognition (and, on occasion, ended) during their travels with the Doctor. It has become a cliché that all that is required of a Doctor Who companion is that he or she should scream and look terrified. Some of the characters certainly fuelled that idea, but there is more to it than that. Companions have also been headstrong, devastatingly intelligent and sometimes downright dangerous.
Glamour girls aside, there have been journalists (Sarah Jane Smith), doctors (Harry Sullivan), scientists (Zoe, Liz Shaw), soldiers (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and the men of UNIT), sailors (Ben Jackson), Highland warriors (Jamie), aliens (Leela, Adric, Nyssa and Turlough) and robots (Kamelion and, of course, K9).
Actors have always clamoured to appear in the series, joining a select band of those able to say they have been exterminated by a Dalek or shot by a Cyberman.
Among guest artists appearing were:
George Baker, Peter Barkworth, Keith Barron,
Lynda Bellingham, Rodney Bewes, Honor Blackman, Hywel Bennett, Brian Blessed, Bernard Bresslaw, Richard Briers, Eleanor Bron, Faith Brown, Michael Cashman, John Cleese, Martin Clunes, Pauline Collins, Jason Connery, Windsor Davies, Brigit Forsyth, Brian Glover, Liza Goddard, Hannah Gordon, Marius Goring, Leslie Grantham, Sheila Hancock, Martin Jarvis, Stratford Johns, Rula Lenska, Kate O’Mara, Geoffrey Palmer, Nicholas Parsons, Susan Penhaligon, Tim Piggot-Smith, Alexei Sayle, Richard Todd, Jack Watling, Helen Worth…the list is practically endless. Many actors admit freely that they took part just to gain credibility with their children!
Green Scaley People Are People Too!
Whenever the Doctor has landed in a strange situation, the alien creatures (some friends, more often foes) he has encountered have played a vital part in boosting the audience’s interest.
A distinct list of favourites has emerged over the years:
Less well known are creatures such as the Animus, the Chumblies, the Drashigs, the Kangs, Mechanoids, Ogrons, Swampies, Tractators, Vervoids and Zygons. In fact, there is at least one adversary for each letter of the alphabet.
Success Story
In its heyday, Doctor Who had a worldwide audience in excess of 110 million, being screened in more than 60 countries from Australia to Zimbabwe. It has spawned a host of merchandise including; badges, board games, books, calendars, confectionery, (including Easter eggs), figurines, Frisbees, jigsaws, key rings, kites, leisurewear, model kits, pens, posters, records, stationery, toys, video games and wallpaper, all produced under licence from BBC Worldwide.Iconic images from the programme have featured in major advertising campaigns for Kellogg’s Cornflakes, Shredded Wheat and Weetabix cereals, Kit-Kat biscuits, Walkers’ Crisps, Wall’s Ice Cream, Renault and Volkswagen cars, Vodafone services and “Energizer” batteries.
Nearly all broadcast stories have been novelised (amounting to more than 150 titles) and the Doctor’s continuing exploits are published regularly in the BBC Books range of brand new novels. Large format books range from cookery and knitting pattern books to illustrated studies of all the monsters and technical tomes about production of the series over the years. Panini Publishing continues to produce the monthly Doctor Who Magazine – now, amazingly, in its 25th year!
The Doctor Who Appreciation Society (DWAS) continues to research the programme’s history and ‘PanoptiCon’, the annual conference for dyed-in-the- wool enthusiasts goes from strength to strength.
Doctor Who is still transmitted regularly on UK Gold and the original adventures released by both BBC Video on VHS and DVD, and BBC Audio/Radio Collection on audiocassette, CD and MP3, are amongst BBC Worldwide’s award-winning and most enduring titles. With a whole new generation of enthusiasts being drawn into the Doctor’s orbit thanks to the cult TV pages of BBCi, the market for the legendary Doctor continues to grow.
A vibrant fan base, evidenced by innumerable clubs and internet websites await further new adventures with eager anticipation.
Andrew Beech worked as a solicitor for many years before deciding he’d be much happier if he turned his hobby into a career. He now works as an events organiser, freelance producer and media consultant (for film, theatre and television from the Sixties to date). He specialises in a number of areas, but has a particular interest in Doctor Who, which fired his enthusiasm and imagination from the tender age of four years old – his age when the show first started in 1963.
Doctor Who returns in 2005.
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