On 23rd November 1963 – that was the date Doctor Who made its viewing day some 44 years ago on BBC television – little did the show’s creators know they had just launched what would become the series of longest running sci-fi of all time!
So how did Doctor Who come to be?
In 1962, the year before Doctor Who’s first television debut, BBC Head of Drama Sydney Newman needed a new Saturday night family series to fit in with his current Saturday night programmes, Grandstand and Juke Box Jury.
Ideas for the new series ranged from future problem solvers, flying saucers, telepathy, and a time machine. Of course we all know which one won, time travel.
There were four main characters in the series; two of them would be made up of the two teachers at the school, Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright. Teenage viewers could relate to Susan Foreman, one of her students, even if she was an alien, she looks like a human, so she didn’t make a difference. And then there was the absolute star of the show, the Doctor himself. An anti-hero known only to the Doctor, where the series’ title would come from; Doctor what? The phrase kept appearing in future episodes as new characters asked who the Doctor was, Doctor who?
The Doctor and his companions first set out on their adventures on November 23, 1963, traveling 100,000 years into the past to help cavemen discover fire for the first time.
Doctor Who Icons
Probably the most memorable thing about Doctor Who, apart from its characters, was and still is the Tardis, the time machine that allowed the Doctor and his companions to travel through space and time. From the concept that it is much bigger on the inside than the outside, to its appearance of an old British blue phone booth, to the unique sounds it makes while in operation, it has become one of the icons of Doctor Who.
Another thing that no one easily forgets about Doctor Who is its theme song, being one of the first pieces of electronic music ever created, it is to this day a timeless piece. There was nothing like it when it was created and to this day there is nothing like it, it’s just one of a kind!
Expansion of the series to other media
The popularity of Doctor Who grew and grew and soon the BBC was airing exclusively written episodes for radio performed by previous actors from the series who had played the Doctor. In addition to this, in the mid-1970s, the BBC began releasing soundtracks for television episodes in audiobook format. Again, due to its popularity, the BBC started putting out the radio episodes on the Doctor Who audiobook and even entirely new episodes written exclusively for the audiobook release. More recently, Doctor Who has had its first spin-offs with Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. Downloadable BBC Torchwood audiobooks are now available.
If you count all the Doctor Who audiobooks that have been released over the years from soundtracks, lost episodes, radio episodes, original audiobooks, new Doctor Who series and now Torchwood, there are over 50. titles available, now all in quality. Digital sound and available for instant download from the web!
