FIFTY-FOUR years ago today, the very first episode of Doctor Who aired on television.
To mark the occasion, Whovians worldwide are celebrating ‘Doctor Who Day’.
Doctor Who is 54 years old today!
???#DoctorWhoDay pic.twitter.com/bteIa91UpM— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) November 23, 2017
Tom Baker, the fourth incarnation of the Doctor, said in a video message to fans: “I just want to wish you a happy Doctor Who day. I think of myself as the happiest of all the Doctor Whos and they might not agree with that but then, let them disagree.”
The mighty Tom Baker – the Fourth Doctor – sends his best wishes for #DoctorWhoDay! pic.twitter.com/IuyYeUkrgU
— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) November 23, 2017
The show debuted just one day after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and many mistakenly believe it aired several minutes later than scheduled due to over-running news coverage.
However, it was only around 80 seconds behind time.
It was repeated the next weekend before the second episode was shown, after a combination of the JFK coverage and power outages in the UK led the BBC to believe many had missed the premiere of the four part serial.
The episode, entitled An Unearthly Child, introduced the viewer to William Hartnell as The Doctor, a time traveller making his way across space and time in the TARDIS.
His companions were schoolteachers Ian Chesterton (played by William Russell) and Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill) and The Doctor’s granddaughter, Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford).
The viewer quickly found out that the TARDIS is bigger on the inside and that there were some thrilling adventures to come…
It attracted 4.4 million viewers, with the following week reaching 5.9 million.
54 years later, it’s still a staple in British TV, with several iconic incarnations of the Doctor.
This year’s Christmas special will see David Bradley take on the role of the First Doctor (Hartnell died in 1975) alongside Peter Capaldi.
The first female Doctor will also take control of the TARDIS in the festive episode, with Jodie Whittaker making her debut.
Take a look through our timeline, and vote below on who’s your favourite Doctor!
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