Doctor Who
For the very first time, sci-fi classic, Doctor Who, premieres on BBC AMERICA with four cinematic specials created by award-winning writer Russell T Davies (Torchwood, Queer as Folk). Doctor Who is the longest running sci-fi series in television history and cultural institution in the UK. The iconic sci-fi series originally aired on the BBC from 1963 – 1989 and ran on over 400 PBS stations in the ‘80s.
NOTE FROM RUSSELL T DAVIES ON HIS JOURNEY WITH DAVID TENNANT
David Tennant’s Doctor was born on Christmas Day 2005, in a blast of golden energy, as the Time Lord entered his tenth life.
Since then, he’s blazed across the screen, fighting Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, Werewolves and Weeping Angels, in adventures ranging from Shakespeare’s time to the year one hundred trillion. The Tenth Doctor cuts a dash across the universe – he’s tall, smiling, cheeky and wild, the best friend you could ever have, traveling the universe in his timeship, the Tardis!
But for all his joy, he’s haunted by sadness. He’s the last of the Time Lords, the sole survivor of his race. At first, he had the company of Rose Tyler, an ordinary shop-girl from modern-day London whose life was transformed by the endless vistas of time and space. They swore to be together forever. But when Earth became caught in the middle of an intergalactic war, a rift into a parallel universe took Rose away, and the faithful companions were separated forever.
The Doctor still journeyed on, with hope in his heart. Medical student Martha Jones became his fellow traveler – and together, they encountered the Lazarus Creature, the crab-like Macra, the Family of Blood and the wrath of a Living Sun. And finally, the Doctor discovered another Time Lord in existence, the Master. But his old childhood friend was insane, and enslaved the Human race, trapping Earth inside his Paradox Machine. Only the Master’s death could save the day, and when Martha stayed behind to nurse her devastated family – and her own broken heart - the Doctor was alone once more…
Until Donna Noble arrived! Strong, sassy, fiery and bold, she became the Doctor’s equal, and the best friend he’d been waiting for. Together, they experienced some of the Time Lord’s most joyous tales, meeting Agatha Christie, surviving Pompeii and freeing the Ood from slavery.
But legacies of the past would never leave the Doctor alone. A threat arose, so great, that both Rose and Martha returned, alongside Torchwood’s Captain Jack. They teamed up in an almighty battle to fight Davros, creator of the Daleks, and his terrifying Reality Bomb.
The universe was saved. But at a cost. Poor Donna Noble had her mind wiped, so she forgot the Doctor ever existed. He traveled on, swearing never again to have a human companion, because they break his hearts. But humanity still needs him. And ominous warnings hint that the Doctor’s life is coming to an end. As David Tennant embarks upon his final four adventures, the mysterious Ood have told him that his song is ending soon; something deadly is waiting on Mars; Donna’s grandfather, Wilf, is experiencing strange visions; and a powerful psychic warns the Doctor that “He will knock four times…” The end is coming. But will the Doctor, and the human race, survive?
DOCTOR WHO TIMELINE
The Doctor has been traveling through history and battling the evil forces of the universe for almost half a century. Take a look at some of the highlights of the show and the eleven actors who have helmed the Tardis...
First Doctor: William Hartnell (1963-1966)
November 23, 1963 - Doctor Who premieres on BBC Television, but the first airing is overshadowed by U.S. President John F. Kennedy's death a day earlier. 55-year-old William Hartnell becomes the first actor to step into the Tardis.
December 28, 1963 - The Daleks first appear in a series of episodes written by Terry Nation, resulting in what the British media referred to as "Dalekmania."
October 8, 1966 - The Cybermen make their first appearances on Doctor Who in a series of episodes titled "The Tenth Planet."
October 29, 1966 - William Hartnell ends his run as The Doctor, who is "regenerated" into a new physical form, played by actor Patrick Troughton.
Second Doctor: Patrick Troughton (1966-1969)
November 5, 1966 - Troughton appears in his first full episode as The Doctor.
December 17, 1966 - Frazer Hines joins the cast as Jamie McCrimmon, the Doctor's companion. He appears in 115 episodes, more than any other companion.
February 3, 1968 - Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart first appears in the Doctor Who story arc, The Web of Fear. The Brigadier works for the UNIT, an organization that fights extraterrestrial attacks.
June 21, 1969 - Troughton ends his role as The Doctor in the final episode of the story arc, The War Games. The Doctor is exiled to Earth and regenerated as a new being, played by comic actor Jon Pertwee.
Third Doctor: Jon Pertwee (1970-1974)
January 3, 1970 - The Doctor Who story arc Spearhead From Space premieres and is the first episode produced in color.
January 2, 1971 - Roger Delgado appears as the first version of the character The Master in the series of episodes titled Terror of Autons.
1972 - Pertwee releases a vocal version of the program's famous theme song titled "Who is the Doctor?"
December 15, 1973 - Sarah Jane Smith, played by Elisabeth Sladen, joins the cast of Doctor Who. The character arguably becomes the most popular of Doctor Who companions.
June 8, 1974 - Pertwee's last episode as The Doctor airs. Tom Baker takes over in the role, and his unique scarf-wearing makes him one of the most iconic Doctors.
Fourth Doctor: Tom Baker (1974-1981)
April 23, 1975 - William Hartnell, the First Doctor, dies of heart failure at age 67 in England.
1979 - During the late '70s, Doctor Who reaches its prime with an average 12 million viewers an episode. Viewership peaks at 16 million during the 1979 network strike.
June 1980 - The BBC receives negative reaction from the public when it announces that Doctor Who sidekick K9, a robotic dog, will be leaving the show, prompting producer John Nathan-Turner to propose the show's first spinoff K9 and Company.
March 21, 1981 - Baker's last episode of Doctor Who airs. Peter Davison takes over and, at age 30, is the youngest Doctor ever, up until that point. Davison was already a star due to his previous role on All Creatures Great and Small.
Fifth Doctor: Peter Davison (1982-1984)
December 28, 1981 - The first and only episode of the K9 and Company premieres.
November 25, 1983 - To celebrate the show's 20th anniversary, the BBC airs The Five Doctors, a feature-length event with all five doctors reuniting. Actor Richard Hurndall replaces the late William Hartnell as the First Doctor.
March 16, 1984 - Davison ends his role as The Doctor, and Colin Baker takes over the Tardis. Baker's Doctor becomes known for his love of cats, over-the-top, multi-colored wardrobe, and arrogant, outrageous persona.
Sixth Doctor: Colin Baker (1984-1986)
March 22, 1984 - Colin Baker's first full episode as The Doctor. In the premiere, the Doctor attacks and nearly chokes his companion, Peri Brown, to death after regeneration.
November 1, 1986 - Mel, a popular companion played by actress Bonnie Langford, first appears in an episode of the story arc, Terror of the Vervoids.
December 6, 1986 - Colin Baker makes his final appearance in The Ultimate Foe.
March 28, 1987 - Patrick Troughton, the Second Doctor, dies of a heart attack at age 67 while attending a convention in Columbus, Georgia.
Seventh Doctor: Sylvester McCoy (1987-1989)
September 7, 1987 - Scottish actor Sylvester McCoy takes over as the Seventh Doctor. He’s known for wearing a white hat and brandishing an umbrella with a red question-mark-shaped handle. The season airs opposite the popular ITV soap, Coronation Street, which causes audience erosion. The show is cancelled in 1989.
December 6, 1989 - The last episode of the original British Doctor Who's twenty-six season run on the BBC airs.
Eighth Doctor: Paul McGann (1996)
May 12, 1996 - Paul McGann stars in an American co-production with Fox, the project isn’t deemed a success but McGann's work as The Doctor continues on several audio productions for the BBC.
May 20, 1996 - Jon Pertwee, the Third Doctor, dies of a heart attack at age 76 in Connecticut.
Ninth Doctor: Christopher Eccleston (2005)
September 26, 2003 - Russell T Davies, creator of the original Queer As Folk and lifelong Doctor Who fan, is announced as the creator of a new modern revival of the show.
March 26, 2005 - The new series premieres. The Ninth Doctor is played by Christopher Eccleston, a well-known character actor from film and television. The Doctor's companion, Rose Tyler, is played by former pop star Billie Piper.
March 30, 2005 - Just four days after the premiere, the BBC announces that Christopher Eccleston will no longer play the Doctor and that David Tennant is reportedly in talks to fill the role. Tennant's casting as the new Doctor is confirmed by BBC on April 16.
May 21, 2005 - "The Empty Child", the first Doctor Who episode written by Season Five showrunner Steven Moffat, premieres. The episode also introduces the character of Captain Jack Harkness, who returned to Doctor Who in later seasons as well as spinning off into the Torchwood series.
June 18, 2005 - In the episode "The Parting of the Ways," the Ninth Doctor dies and regenerates into the Tenth Doctor, played by Tennant.
Tenth Doctor: David Tennant (2005-2010)
December 25, 2005 - "The Christmas Invasion" becomes the first Doctor Who Christmas special and is the first full episode featuring David Tennant as The Doctor.
May 7, 2006 - Doctor Who wins three BAFTA TV Awards, including Best Drama Series.
October 22, 2006 - Torchwood, a Doctor Who spinoff featuring Captain Jack Harkness, premieres.
March 31, 2007 - Freema Agyeman becomes the Doctor's new companion, Dr. Martha Jones.
April 5, 2008 - Comedienne Catherine Tate joins the cast as The Doctor's companion, Donna Noble. Donna previously appeared in the Christmas special, The Runaway Bride.
May 20, 2008 - Russell T Davies announces he's handing over the reins of Doctor Who to his critically acclaimed staff writer, Steven Moffat.
October 29, 2008 - David Tennant announces he's leaving Doctor Who.
January 3, 2009 - Relative unknown actor Matt Smith, who was a cast member on the BBC series Party Animals, is named the Eleventh Doctor. At 26, he replaces Peter Davison as the youngest Doctor.
May 29, 2009 - Actress Karen Gillan is unveiled as the companion to the Eleventh Doctor.
April 11, 2009 - Planet of the Dead, the first of four final specials featuring David Tennant, premieres in the UK.
Eleventh Doctor: Matt Smith (2010- )
July 20, 2009 - Production starts on the new season of Doctor Who, in which viewers will meet the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, and his companion, Karen Gillan, for the very first time.
Spring 2010 - The fifth season of the modern Doctor Who will premiere, featuring Matt Smith as The Doctor, Steven Moffat as head writer, and Piers Wenger as executive producer, replacing Julie Gardner.
David Tennant’s Doctor was born on Christmas Day 2005, in a blast of golden energy, as the Time Lord entered his tenth life.
Since then, he’s blazed across the screen, fighting Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, Werewolves and Weeping Angels, in adventures ranging from Shakespeare’s time to the year one hundred trillion. The Tenth Doctor cuts a dash across the universe – he’s tall, smiling, cheeky and wild, the best friend you could ever have, traveling the universe in his timeship, the Tardis!
But for all his joy, he’s haunted by sadness. He’s the last of the Time Lords, the sole survivor of his race. At first, he had the company of Rose Tyler, an ordinary shop-girl from modern-day London whose life was transformed by the endless vistas of time and space. They swore to be together forever. But when Earth became caught in the middle of an intergalactic war, a rift into a parallel universe took Rose away, and the faithful companions were separated forever.
The Doctor still journeyed on, with hope in his heart. Medical student Martha Jones became his fellow traveler – and together, they encountered the Lazarus Creature, the crab-like Macra, the Family of Blood and the wrath of a Living Sun. And finally, the Doctor discovered another Time Lord in existence, the Master. But his old childhood friend was insane, and enslaved the Human race, trapping Earth inside his Paradox Machine. Only the Master’s death could save the day, and when Martha stayed behind to nurse her devastated family – and her own broken heart - the Doctor was alone once more…
Until Donna Noble arrived! Strong, sassy, fiery and bold, she became the Doctor’s equal, and the best friend he’d been waiting for. Together, they experienced some of the Time Lord’s most joyous tales, meeting Agatha Christie, surviving Pompeii and freeing the Ood from slavery.
But legacies of the past would never leave the Doctor alone. A threat arose, so great, that both Rose and Martha returned, alongside Torchwood’s Captain Jack. They teamed up in an almighty battle to fight Davros, creator of the Daleks, and his terrifying Reality Bomb.
The universe was saved. But at a cost. Poor Donna Noble had her mind wiped, so she forgot the Doctor ever existed. He traveled on, swearing never again to have a human companion, because they break his hearts. But humanity still needs him. And ominous warnings hint that the Doctor’s life is coming to an end. As David Tennant embarks upon his final four adventures, the mysterious Ood have told him that his song is ending soon; something deadly is waiting on Mars; Donna’s grandfather, Wilf, is experiencing strange visions; and a powerful psychic warns the Doctor that “He will knock four times…” The end is coming. But will the Doctor, and the human race, survive?
DOCTOR WHO TIMELINE
The Doctor has been traveling through history and battling the evil forces of the universe for almost half a century. Take a look at some of the highlights of the show and the eleven actors who have helmed the Tardis...
First Doctor: William Hartnell (1963-1966)
November 23, 1963 - Doctor Who premieres on BBC Television, but the first airing is overshadowed by U.S. President John F. Kennedy's death a day earlier. 55-year-old William Hartnell becomes the first actor to step into the Tardis.
December 28, 1963 - The Daleks first appear in a series of episodes written by Terry Nation, resulting in what the British media referred to as "Dalekmania."
October 8, 1966 - The Cybermen make their first appearances on Doctor Who in a series of episodes titled "The Tenth Planet."
October 29, 1966 - William Hartnell ends his run as The Doctor, who is "regenerated" into a new physical form, played by actor Patrick Troughton.
Second Doctor: Patrick Troughton (1966-1969)
November 5, 1966 - Troughton appears in his first full episode as The Doctor.
December 17, 1966 - Frazer Hines joins the cast as Jamie McCrimmon, the Doctor's companion. He appears in 115 episodes, more than any other companion.
February 3, 1968 - Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart first appears in the Doctor Who story arc, The Web of Fear. The Brigadier works for the UNIT, an organization that fights extraterrestrial attacks.
June 21, 1969 - Troughton ends his role as The Doctor in the final episode of the story arc, The War Games. The Doctor is exiled to Earth and regenerated as a new being, played by comic actor Jon Pertwee.
Third Doctor: Jon Pertwee (1970-1974)
January 3, 1970 - The Doctor Who story arc Spearhead From Space premieres and is the first episode produced in color.
January 2, 1971 - Roger Delgado appears as the first version of the character The Master in the series of episodes titled Terror of Autons.
1972 - Pertwee releases a vocal version of the program's famous theme song titled "Who is the Doctor?"
December 15, 1973 - Sarah Jane Smith, played by Elisabeth Sladen, joins the cast of Doctor Who. The character arguably becomes the most popular of Doctor Who companions.
June 8, 1974 - Pertwee's last episode as The Doctor airs. Tom Baker takes over in the role, and his unique scarf-wearing makes him one of the most iconic Doctors.
Fourth Doctor: Tom Baker (1974-1981)
April 23, 1975 - William Hartnell, the First Doctor, dies of heart failure at age 67 in England.
1979 - During the late '70s, Doctor Who reaches its prime with an average 12 million viewers an episode. Viewership peaks at 16 million during the 1979 network strike.
June 1980 - The BBC receives negative reaction from the public when it announces that Doctor Who sidekick K9, a robotic dog, will be leaving the show, prompting producer John Nathan-Turner to propose the show's first spinoff K9 and Company.
March 21, 1981 - Baker's last episode of Doctor Who airs. Peter Davison takes over and, at age 30, is the youngest Doctor ever, up until that point. Davison was already a star due to his previous role on All Creatures Great and Small.
Fifth Doctor: Peter Davison (1982-1984)
December 28, 1981 - The first and only episode of the K9 and Company premieres.
November 25, 1983 - To celebrate the show's 20th anniversary, the BBC airs The Five Doctors, a feature-length event with all five doctors reuniting. Actor Richard Hurndall replaces the late William Hartnell as the First Doctor.
March 16, 1984 - Davison ends his role as The Doctor, and Colin Baker takes over the Tardis. Baker's Doctor becomes known for his love of cats, over-the-top, multi-colored wardrobe, and arrogant, outrageous persona.
Sixth Doctor: Colin Baker (1984-1986)
March 22, 1984 - Colin Baker's first full episode as The Doctor. In the premiere, the Doctor attacks and nearly chokes his companion, Peri Brown, to death after regeneration.
November 1, 1986 - Mel, a popular companion played by actress Bonnie Langford, first appears in an episode of the story arc, Terror of the Vervoids.
December 6, 1986 - Colin Baker makes his final appearance in The Ultimate Foe.
March 28, 1987 - Patrick Troughton, the Second Doctor, dies of a heart attack at age 67 while attending a convention in Columbus, Georgia.
Seventh Doctor: Sylvester McCoy (1987-1989)
September 7, 1987 - Scottish actor Sylvester McCoy takes over as the Seventh Doctor. He’s known for wearing a white hat and brandishing an umbrella with a red question-mark-shaped handle. The season airs opposite the popular ITV soap, Coronation Street, which causes audience erosion. The show is cancelled in 1989.
December 6, 1989 - The last episode of the original British Doctor Who's twenty-six season run on the BBC airs.
Eighth Doctor: Paul McGann (1996)
May 12, 1996 - Paul McGann stars in an American co-production with Fox, the project isn’t deemed a success but McGann's work as The Doctor continues on several audio productions for the BBC.
May 20, 1996 - Jon Pertwee, the Third Doctor, dies of a heart attack at age 76 in Connecticut.
Ninth Doctor: Christopher Eccleston (2005)
September 26, 2003 - Russell T Davies, creator of the original Queer As Folk and lifelong Doctor Who fan, is announced as the creator of a new modern revival of the show.
March 26, 2005 - The new series premieres. The Ninth Doctor is played by Christopher Eccleston, a well-known character actor from film and television. The Doctor's companion, Rose Tyler, is played by former pop star Billie Piper.
March 30, 2005 - Just four days after the premiere, the BBC announces that Christopher Eccleston will no longer play the Doctor and that David Tennant is reportedly in talks to fill the role. Tennant's casting as the new Doctor is confirmed by BBC on April 16.
May 21, 2005 - "The Empty Child", the first Doctor Who episode written by Season Five showrunner Steven Moffat, premieres. The episode also introduces the character of Captain Jack Harkness, who returned to Doctor Who in later seasons as well as spinning off into the Torchwood series.
June 18, 2005 - In the episode "The Parting of the Ways," the Ninth Doctor dies and regenerates into the Tenth Doctor, played by Tennant.
Tenth Doctor: David Tennant (2005-2010)
December 25, 2005 - "The Christmas Invasion" becomes the first Doctor Who Christmas special and is the first full episode featuring David Tennant as The Doctor.
May 7, 2006 - Doctor Who wins three BAFTA TV Awards, including Best Drama Series.
October 22, 2006 - Torchwood, a Doctor Who spinoff featuring Captain Jack Harkness, premieres.
March 31, 2007 - Freema Agyeman becomes the Doctor's new companion, Dr. Martha Jones.
April 5, 2008 - Comedienne Catherine Tate joins the cast as The Doctor's companion, Donna Noble. Donna previously appeared in the Christmas special, The Runaway Bride.
May 20, 2008 - Russell T Davies announces he's handing over the reins of Doctor Who to his critically acclaimed staff writer, Steven Moffat.
October 29, 2008 - David Tennant announces he's leaving Doctor Who.
January 3, 2009 - Relative unknown actor Matt Smith, who was a cast member on the BBC series Party Animals, is named the Eleventh Doctor. At 26, he replaces Peter Davison as the youngest Doctor.
May 29, 2009 - Actress Karen Gillan is unveiled as the companion to the Eleventh Doctor.
April 11, 2009 - Planet of the Dead, the first of four final specials featuring David Tennant, premieres in the UK.
Eleventh Doctor: Matt Smith (2010- )
July 20, 2009 - Production starts on the new season of Doctor Who, in which viewers will meet the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, and his companion, Karen Gillan, for the very first time.
Spring 2010 - The fifth season of the modern Doctor Who will premiere, featuring Matt Smith as The Doctor, Steven Moffat as head writer, and Piers Wenger as executive producer, replacing Julie Gardner.
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