Doctor Who Legacy
However hard the Daleks try, they just can’t exterminate Doctor Who, and as testament to its popularity, and status as a TV legacy, it has now notched up 11 different Doctors, countless monsters trying to destroy the earth, hundreds of episodes, and two television films. All things considered, it’s not surprising that The BBC is now home to one of the longest running Sci-Fi programs in the world!
Doctor Who began in 1963, and ran until 1996, before taking a break and eventually re-emerging in 2005. Since then it has won a BAFTA is 2006 for Best Drama, and a number of National Television Awards. It has also given birth to several spinoffs, including the successful Torchwood, and the child-orientated Sarah Jane Adventures. Here’s a look at the Doctor Who legacy, and some of the characters that millions of TV viewers have encountered over the years.
The Doctor
Doctor Who is a clever being in the world of science fiction, when his body gets old and tired, it regenerates, hence Doctor Who being played by no less than 11 different actors. It all began in 1963 with William Hartnell, who was followed in 1966 by Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee in 1970, and the well-known Tom Baker in 1974. Peter Davison took over the role in 1981, and was succeeded by Colin Baker in 1984, and Sylvester McCoy was seen on screen from 1987. Then there was Paul McGann in 1996, more recently Christopher Eccleston in 2005, and David Tennant from 2005-2010. The current Doctor is played by Matt Smith.
The Companions
Saving the world from all sorts of weird and wonderful enemies would be hard work for one person, even if he is Doctor Who, so the writers of the show gave him a female companion, an important role, which has won acclaim for many of the actresses that have played the part. Some of the actresses that have partnered the Doctor over the years include Billie Piper, Catherine Tate, Freema Agyeman, and more recently Karen Gillan.
Guest Stars
There has been an eclectic mix of guest stars appearing in Doctor Who since it was first broadcast, including Kylie Minogue, Derek Jacobi, Jon Culshaw, Christopher Biggins, Matt Lucas, Andrew Marr, Anne Robinson, Kate O’Mara, and more recently James Corden, Bill Nighy, Nina Wadia, and Sir Patrick Moore.
The Tardis
What looks from the outside like an innocuous blue police call box, is actually one of the most famous machines in Doctor Who. The inside of the Tardis resembles some kind of futuristic space craft full of gadgets, that can transport the Doctor and his companions back or forward in time in their quest to avert global disaster.
The Enemies
There have been all kinds of mythical beings and inventions appearing in Doctor Who, but perhaps the most famous were the Daleks. These mechanical devices were travel machines that housed creatures called Kaleds, and were motivated only by hate and fear. They have since been joined on the programs by androids called The Smilers, The Dream Lord, a creator of deadly dreams, The Silurians, known as Earth’s first intelligent beings, the ugly Vampires of Venice, humanoids called Cybermen, and the so-called Arch-Nemesis of the Doctor, The Master. To keep things fresh and exciting the production team frequently introduce new creatures into a series or episode, so expect many more monsters in the years to come.
Find Out More
To find out more about Doctor Who, the characters in the various series, the special effects , props, and costumes used, and much more why not pay a visit to the Doctor Who exhibitions in Cardiff, (where the programs are now filmed), Lands End in Cornwall, and Newcastle. You can also of course go shopping, as the series has seen many retail spin-offs such as magazines, books, toys, collectables, and other memorabilia. With the shows popularity showing no sign of waning, there will probably be many more ways to enjoy the best science fiction program in the world, in the years to come. The question is, will you want to ‘exterminate’ or ‘embrace’ the Doctor Who experience?
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