Season 1 (Doctor Who 1963): Difference between revisions

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|ref book8      = TCH 3
|ref book8      = TCH 3
|doc            = Jacqueline Hill: A Life in Pictures (documentary)
|doc            = Jacqueline Hill: A Life in Pictures (documentary)
|doc2            =
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|mythmakers      = MM VHS 4
|mythmakers      = MM VHS 4
|mythmakers2    = MM VHS 33
|mythmakers2    = MM VHS 33
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|mythmakers9    = MM DVD 36
|mythmakers9    = MM DVD 36
|mythmakers10    =  
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|next            = Season 2
|next            = Season 2 (Doctor Who 1963)|
|trailer        =
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|trailer2        =
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|clip            = First Time Entering the TARDIS - An Unearthly Child - Doctor Who - BBC
|clip            = First Time Entering the TARDIS - An Unearthly Child - Doctor Who - BBC
|clip2          = The Doctor is ridiculed - Classic Doctor Who - BBC
|clip2          = The Doctor is ridiculed - Classic Doctor Who - BBC
|clip3          = The reincarnation of Yetaxa - Doctor Who - The Aztecs - BBC
|clip3          = The reincarnation of Yetaxa - Doctor Who - The Aztecs - BBC
|bts            =
}}{{dab page|Series 1}}
|bts2            =
{{big toc}}
|bts3            =
'''Season 1''' of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' ran from [[23 November (releases)|23 November]] [[1963 (releases)|1963]] to [[12 September (releases)|12 September]] [[1964 (releases)|1964]]. It starred [[William Hartnell]] as the [[First Doctor]], [[Carole Ann Ford]] as [[Susan Foreman]], the Doctor's granddaughter, and [[William Russell]] and [[Jacqueline Hill]] as companions [[Ian Chesterton]] and [[Barbara Wright]]. The season opened with ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'' and concluded with ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]''.
}}{{dab page|Series 1}}{{big toc}}
'''Season 1''' of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' ran from [[23 November (releases)|23 November]] [[1963 (releases)|1963]] to [[12 September (releases)|12 September]] [[1964 (releases)|1964]]. It starred [[William Hartnell]] as the [[First Doctor]], [[Carole Ann Ford]] as [[Susan Foreman]], the Doctor's granddaughter, and [[William Russell]] and [[Jacqueline Hill]] as companions [[Ian Chesterton]] and [[Barbara Wright]]. The season opened with the story ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'' and concluded with the story ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]''.


== Overview ==
== Overview ==
It consisted of eight serials and forty-two episodes, as well as [[The Pilot Episode|a pilot episode]] which was never aired on [[television]] until [[1991 (releases)|1991]]. More accurately, the production team made several versions of the pilot episode. The inaugural season established many of the concepts that continue to the present day and also introduced the hugely popular [[Dalek]]s. Two of the three historical stories of this season are presently considered lost, in total (as is the case of ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'') or partially (''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]''), although audio recordings of all episodes remain.
The season consisted of eight serials comprised of forty-two episodes, as well as [[The Pilot Episode|a pilot episode]] which was never aired on [[television]] until [[1991 (releases)|1991]]. More accurately, the production team made several versions of the pilot episode. The inaugural season established many of the concepts that continue to the present day and also introduced the hugely popular [[Dalek]]s. Two of the three historical stories of this season are presently considered lost, in total (as is the case of ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'') or partially (''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]''), although audio recordings of all episodes remain.


== Television stories ==
== Television stories ==
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|4  
|4  
|''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]''
|''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]''
|[[John Lucarotti (writer)|John Lucarotti]]
|[[John Lucarotti]]
|7
|7
|First storyline based around a historical figure and the first story to be written by [[John Lucarotti]]. First story to have missing episodes.
|First storyline based around a historical figure and the first story to be written by [[John Lucarotti]]. First story to have missing episodes.
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|6
|6
|''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]''
|''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]''
|[[John Lucarotti (writer)|John Lucarotti]]
|[[John Lucarotti]]
|4
|4
|First story to tackle the concept of changing history.
|First story to tackle the concept of changing history.
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* [[First judge]] - [[Alan James]]
* [[First judge]] - [[Alan James]]
* [[Second judge]] - [[Peter Stenson]]
* [[Second judge]] - [[Peter Stenson]]
* [[Kala]] - [[Fiona Walker]]
* [[Kala (The Keys of Marinus)|Kala]] - [[Fiona Walker]]
* [[Aydan]] - [[Martin Cort]]
* [[Aydan]] - [[Martin Cort]]
* [[Eyesen]] - [[Donald Pickering]]
* [[Eyesen]] - [[Donald Pickering]]
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Stories considered during this season, but ultimately unmade, included:
Stories considered during this season, but ultimately unmade, included:


* ''[[The Masters of Luxor (TV story)|The Masters of Luxor]]'' (a.k.a. ''The Robots'') by [[Anthony Coburn]]
* ''[[The Masters of Luxor (unproduced TV story)|The Masters of Luxor]]'' (a.k.a. ''The Robots'') by [[Anthony Coburn]]
* ''[[The Hidden Planet (TV story)|The Hidden Planet]]'' (a.k.a. ''Beyond the Sun'') by [[Malcolm Hulke]]
* ''[[The Hidden Planet (unproduced TV story)|The Hidden Planet]]'' (a.k.a. ''Beyond the Sun'') by [[Malcolm Hulke]]
* ''[[The Red Fort (TV story)|The Red Fort]]'' by [[Terry Nation]]
* ''[[The Red Fort (unproduced TV story)|The Red Fort]]'' by [[Terry Nation]]
* ''[[Farewell Great Macedon (TV story)|Farewell Great Macedon]]'' by [[Moris Farhi]]
* ''[[Farewell Great Macedon (unproduced TV story)|Farewell Great Macedon]]'' by [[Moris Farhi]]
* ''[[The Giants (TV story)|The Miniscules]]'' by [[C. E. Webber]] (a variant on this idea appeared as ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'', aired during [[Season 2]])
* ''[[The Giants (unproduced TV story)|The Miniscules]]'' by [[C. E. Webber]] (a variant on this idea appeared as ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'', aired during [[Season 2 (Doctor Who 1963)|Season 2]])


== Stories set before this season ==
== Stories set before this season ==
The following stories are the known adventures set prior to ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'':
=== Novels ===
=== Novels ===
==== Telos Publishing ====
* ''[[Frayed (novel)|Frayed]]''
* ''[[Frayed (novel)|Frayed]]'' is set during the travels of the [[First Doctor]] and [[Susan Foreman|Susan]].
* ''[[Time and Relative (novel)|Time and Relative]]''
* ''[[Time and Relative (novel)|Time and Relative]]'' relates the events leading up to ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]''.


=== Short stories ===
=== Short stories ===
==== Short Trips ====
* ''[[One Virtue, and a Thousand Crimes (short story)|One Virtue, and a Thousand Crimes]]''
* ''[[One Virtue, and a Thousand Crimes (short story)|One Virtue, and a Thousand Crimes]]'' is set before the First Doctor flees [[Gallifrey]].
* ''[[The Exiles (short story)|The Exiles]]''
* ''[[The Exiles (short story)|The Exiles]]'' is set immediately after the First Doctor and Susan depart Gallifrey.
* ''[[Childhood Living (short story)|Childhood Living]]''
* ''[[Childhood Living (short story)|Childhood Living]]'' is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan.
* ''[[Indian Summer (short story)|Indian Summer]]''
* ''[[Indian Summer (short story)|Indian Summer]]'' is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan.
* ''[[The Price of Conviction (short story)|The Price of Conviction]]''
* ''[[The Price of Conviction (short story)|The Price of Conviction]]'' is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan.
* ''[[Bide-a-Wee (short story)|Bide-a-Wee]]''
* ''[[Bide-a-Wee (short story)|Bide-a-Wee]]'' is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan.
* ''[[The Gift (ST short story)|The Gift]]''
* ''[[The Gift (ST short story)|The Gift]]'' is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan.
* ''[[Losing the Audience (short story)|Losing the Audience]]''
* ''[[Losing the Audience (short story)|Losing the Audience]]'' is set during the First Doctor and Susan's stay on [[Earth]] in [[1963]].
* ''[[The Splintered Gate (short story)|The Splintered Gate]]''
* ''[[The Splintered Gate (short story)|The Splintered Gate]]'' features [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]] and [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]] not long before they meet the Doctor.
* ''[[Urrozdinee (short story)|Urrozdinee]]''
* ''[[A Big Hand for the Doctor (short story)|A Big Hand for the Doctor]]''
* ''[[The Arboreals (short story)|The Arboreals]]''


==== Yearbooks ====
=== Audio ===
* ''[[Urrozdinee (short story)|Urrozdinee]]'' is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan.
* ''[[The Beginning (audio story)|The Beginning]]''
 
* ''[[The Alchemists (audio story)|The Alchemists]]''
==== Puffin eshorts ====
* ''[[The Sleeping Blood (audio story)|The Sleeping Blood]]''
* ''[[A Big Hand for the Doctor (short story)|A Big Hand for the Doctor]]'' is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan.
* ''[[Quinnis (audio story)|Quinnis]]''
 
* ''[[Hunters of Earth (audio story)|Hunters of Earth]]''
==== ''The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who'' ====
* ''[[The Arboreals (short story)|The Arboreals]]'' is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan.
 
=== Audio stories ===
==== The Companion Chronicles ====
* ''[[The Beginning (audio story)|The Beginning]]'' recounts [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]' maiden voyage.
* ''[[The Alchemists (audio story)|The Alchemists]]'' is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan.
* ''[[The Sleeping Blood (audio story)|The Sleeping Blood]]'' is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan.
* ''[[Quinnis (audio story)|Quinnis]]'' is set immediately before the First Doctor and Susan's arrival on Earth in 1963.
 
==== Destiny of the Doctors ====
* ''[[Hunters of Earth (audio story)|Hunters of Earth]]'' is set during the First Doctor and Susan's stay on Earth in 1963.


=== Comics ===
=== Comics ===
==== Doctor Who Magazine ====
* ''[[Operation Proteus (comic story)|Operation Proteus]]''
* ''[[Operation Proteus (comic story)|Operation Proteus]]'' is set during the First Doctor and Susan's stay on Earth in 1963.


== Stories set during this season ==
== Stories set during this season ==
=== Novels ===
=== Novels ===
==== Virgin Missing Adventures ====
* ''[[The Sorcerer's Apprentice (novel)|The Sorcerer's Apprentice]]''
* ''[[The Sorcerer's Apprentice (novel)|The Sorcerer's Apprentice]]'' (Set between ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'' and ''[[The Keys of Marinus (TV story)|The Keys of Marinus]]'')
==== BBC Past Doctor Adventures ====
* ''[[City at World's End (novel)|City at World's End]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[The Witch Hunters (novel)|The Witch Hunters]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')


=== Short stories ===
=== Short stories ===
==== Doctor Who Magazine ====
* ''[[Who Discovered America? (short story)|Who Discovered America?]]''
* ''[[Who Discovered America? (short story)|Who Discovered America?]]'' (Set between ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'' and ''[[The Keys of Marinus (TV story)|The Keys of Marinus]]'')
* ''[[The Ruins of Time (short story)|The Ruins of Time]]''
* ''[[Rennigan's Record (short story)|Rennigan's Record]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[The Last Days (short story)|The Last Days]]''
 
* ''[[Mire and Clay (short story)|Mire and Clay]]''
==== Short Trips ====
* ''[[The Duke's Folly (short story)|The Duke's Folly]]''
* ''[[The Ruins of Time (short story)|The Ruins of Time]]'' (Set between ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'' and ''[[The Keys of Marinus (TV story)|The Keys of Marinus]]'')
* ''[[The Mother Road (short story)|The Mother Road]]''
* ''[[The Last Days (short story)|The Last Days]]'' (Set between ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'' and ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'')
* ''[[Tell Me You Love Me (short story)|Tell Me You Love Me]]''
* ''[[Mire and Clay (short story)|Mire and Clay]]'' (Set between ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'' and ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'')
* ''[[The Duke's Folly (short story)|The Duke's Folly]]'' (Set between ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'' and ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'')
* ''[[The Mother Road (short story)|The Mother Road]]'' (Set between ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'' and ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'')
* ''[[Tell Me You Love Me (short story)|Tell Me You Love Me]]'' (Set between ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'' and ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'')
* ''[[Nothing at the End of the Lane (short story)|Nothing at the End of the Lane]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[The Thief of Sherwood (short story)|The Thief of Sherwood]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')


=== Audio ===
=== Audio ===
==== The Companion Chronicles ====
* ''[[A Small Semblance of Home (audio story)|A Small Semblance of Home]]''
* ''[[The Transit of Venus (audio story)|The Transit of Venus]]'' (Set between ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'' and ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'')
* ''[[The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance (audio story)|The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance]]''
* ''[[E is for... (audio story)|E is for...]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[Farewell, Great Macedon (audio story)|Farewell, Great Macedon]]''
* ''[[The Library of Alexandria (audio story)|The Library of Alexandria]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[The Masters of Luxor (audio story)|The Masters of Luxor]]''
* ''[[The Flames of Cadiz (audio story)|The Flames of Cadiz]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[The Transit of Venus (audio story)|The Transit of Venus]]''
* ''[[Here There Be Monsters (audio story)|Here There Be Monsters]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[The Wanderer (audio story)|The Wanderer]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')


==== Short Trips ====
=== Comics ===
* ''[[A Small Semblance of Home (audio story)|A Small Semblance of Home]]'' (Set between ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'' and ''[[The Keys of Marinus (TV story)|The Keys of Marinus]]'')
* ''[[In-Between Times (comic story)|In-Between Times]]''
* ''[[Rise and Fall (audio story)|Rise and Fall]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[The Path of Skulls (comic story)|The Path of Skulls]]''
* ''[[A Star is Born (audio story)|A Star is Born]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[Flywheel Revolution (audio story)|Flywheel Revolution]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
 
==== The Lost Stories ====
* ''[[The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance (TV story)|The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance]]'' (Set between ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'' and ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'')
* ''[[Farewell, Great Macedon (audio story)|Farewell, Great Macedon]]'' (Set between ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'' and ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'')
* ''[[The Masters of Luxor (audio story)|The Masters of Luxor]]'' (Set between ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'' and ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]'')
 
==== The Early Adventures ====
* ''[[Domain of the Voord (audio story)|Domain of the Voord]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[The Age of Endurance (audio story)|The Age of Endurance]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')


==== The First Doctor Adventures ====
* The First Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan's involvement in ''[[The Forgotten (comic story)|The Forgotten]]''
* ''[[The Destination Wars (audio story)|The Destination Wars]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[The Great White Hurricane (audio story)|The Great White Hurricane]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[The Invention of Death (audio story)|The Invention of Death]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[The Barbarians and the Samurai (audio story)|The Barbarians and the Samurai]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[The Phoenicians (audio story)|The Phoenicians]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[Tick-Tock World (audio story)|Tick-Tock World]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[Return to Skaro (audio story)|Return to Skaro]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
* ''[[Last of the Romanovs (audio story)|Last of the Romanovs]]'' (Set between ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]'' and ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]'')
 
=== Comics ===
* ''[[In-Between Times (comic story)|In-Between Times]]'' (Set between ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'' and ''[[The Keys of Marinus (TV story)|The Keys of Marinus]]'')
* ''[[The Path of Skulls (comic story)|The Path of Skulls]]'' (Set between ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'' and ''[[The Keys of Marinus (TV story)|The Keys of Marinus]]'')
* ''[[The Forgotten (comic story)|The Forgotten]]'' (Set between ''[[The Keys of Marinus (TV story)|The Keys of Marinus]]'' and ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'')


== Ratings ==
== Ratings ==
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|}
|}


[[BritBox]] is available only in the [[US]]. [[iTunes]] stores carry ''Doctor Who ''serials in [[Australia]], [[Canada]], [[France]], [[Germany]], the [[UK]] and US.
[[BritBox]] is available only in the [[US]] and [[UK]]. [[iTunes]] stores carry ''Doctor Who ''serials in [[Australia]], [[Canada]], [[France]], [[Germany]], the UK and US.


=== Novels ===
=== Novels ===

Latest revision as of 11:05, 3 August 2024

RealWorld.png

You may wish to consult Series 1 for other, similarly-named pages.

Season 1 of Doctor Who ran from 23 November 1963 to 12 September 1964. It starred William Hartnell as the First Doctor, Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman, the Doctor's granddaughter, and William Russell and Jacqueline Hill as companions Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright. The season opened with An Unearthly Child and concluded with The Reign of Terror.

Overview[[edit] | [edit source]]

The season consisted of eight serials comprised of forty-two episodes, as well as a pilot episode which was never aired on television until 1991. More accurately, the production team made several versions of the pilot episode. The inaugural season established many of the concepts that continue to the present day and also introduced the hugely popular Daleks. Two of the three historical stories of this season are presently considered lost, in total (as is the case of Marco Polo) or partially (The Reign of Terror), although audio recordings of all episodes remain.

Television stories[[edit] | [edit source]]

# Title Writer Episodes Notes
1 An Unearthly Child Anthony Coburn 4 First appearances of the First Doctor, Susan Foreman, Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright and the TARDIS.
2 The Daleks Terry Nation 7 First appearance of the Daleks, first story to be written by Terry Nation and the first story to have episodes directed by Christopher Barry and Richard Martin.
3 The Edge of Destruction David Whitaker 2 First story set entirely within the TARDIS, with no other cast apart from the regular actors, and the only one in the classic series.
4 Marco Polo John Lucarotti 7 First storyline based around a historical figure and the first story to be written by John Lucarotti. First story to have missing episodes.
5 The Keys of Marinus Terry Nation 6 Only story by Terry Nation not to feature the Daleks until The Android Invasion in 1975. First, and only, televised appearance of the Voord.
6 The Aztecs John Lucarotti 4 First story to tackle the concept of changing history.
7 The Sensorites Peter R. Newman 6 First story clearly stated to be set in the future. First, and only, televised appearance of the Sensorites.
8 The Reign of Terror Dennis Spooner 6 First story to feature location filming and the first story to be written by future script editor Dennis Spooner.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Unseen by the public, an early version of the episode "An Unearthly Child" was produced, but was not broadcast until 26 August 1991 (Bank Holiday Monday) when it was shown on BBC2 as part of The Lime Grove Story, a special day of programming to mark the closure of Lime Grove Studios.
  • Stories consisted of between two and seven episodes, with each episode having a distinct title. Some stories have been given different titles over the years; see individual articles for details.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Recurring[[edit] | [edit source]]

Guest[[edit] | [edit source]]

Production[[edit] | [edit source]]

Creation[[edit] | [edit source]]

The series was borne out of a need to fill a gap in the Saturday teatime schedule between Grandstand and Juke Box Jury. A meeting between Donald Wilson, Sydney Newman and Donald Baverstock was held to discuss potential shows to fill this gap. Newman, having had recent experience producing a successful sci-fi show at ABC, suggested that a sci-fi show would be of great potential. From there, the show was formed through various meetings and developing proposals. The show, as we know it, was essentially the creation of a committee, with the following amongst the many who created the various parts that went into the series: Donald Wilson (time travel), Sydney Newman (the First Doctor and Susan), C. E. Webber (Ian and Barbara and the scenario for the first episode), Anthony Coburn (Susan's name, the TARDIS looking like a police box and the idea that the Doctor's ship would have an abbreviated/acronymic name) and David Whitaker (Susan being the Doctor's granddaughter).

Production overview[[edit] | [edit source]]

Verity Lambert was chosen by Sydney Newman as producer of the series (although Don Taylor was first approached), due to his experience working with her on projects for several years, and Mervyn Pinfield was assigned as associate producer, picking up mainly on the technical side of the series such as dealing with the in-camera SFX.

Initially, the series was only ordered for the first four episodes that made up An Unearthly Child and came close to going no further. This was extended to thirteen episodes, but the production team had either eleven (An Unearthly Child and The Daleks) or eighteen (An Unearthly Child, The Daleks and Marco Polo). To solve this problem, David Whitaker wrote the two episode The Edge of Destruction, something that normally would not have happened due to an existing rule that prohibited script editors writing for the series they were editing. This was so that they could not simply commission themselves and deprive other script writers of work.

The first to third season story titles have been a contentious issue. For more information, see disputed story titles.

Stories considered during this season, but ultimately unmade, included:

Stories set before this season[[edit] | [edit source]]

The following stories are the known adventures set prior to An Unearthly Child:

Novels[[edit] | [edit source]]

Short stories[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audio[[edit] | [edit source]]

Comics[[edit] | [edit source]]

Stories set during this season[[edit] | [edit source]]

Novels[[edit] | [edit source]]

Short stories[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audio[[edit] | [edit source]]

Comics[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The First Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan's involvement in The Forgotten

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Average: 8.1 million
  • Highest: 10.4 million (five-way tie)
  • Lowest: 4.9 million (An Unearthly Child episode 1, due to a widespread power cut)

Adaptations and merchandising[[edit] | [edit source]]

Home media[[edit] | [edit source]]

VHS releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • An Unearthly Child (1990/2000)
  • The Daleks (2-part version) (1989)
  • The Daleks [Remastered] (2001)
  • The Edge of Destruction and Dr. Who: The Pilot Episode (2000)
  • The Keys of Marinus (1999)
  • The Aztecs (1992)
  • The Sensorites (2002)
  • The Reign of Terror (2003) (with linking narration of missing episodes, also includes The Faceless Ones episodes 1 and 3 & The Web of Fear episode 1)
  • The Hartnell Years (1991) (Pilot Episode)

See episode articles for full details.

Loose Cannon VHS releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Marco Polo (2002)
  • The Reign of Terror (2000) (episodes 4 and 5 only)

DVD & Blu-ray releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

Serial name Number and duration
of episodes
R2 release date R4 release date R1 release date
The Beginning:
An Unearthly Child (4 episodes)
The Daleks (7 episodes)
The Edge of Destruction (2 episodes)
Marco Polo (reconstruction)
13 × 25 min.
1 × 30 min.
30 January 2006 2 March 2006 28 March 2006
The Keys of Marinus 6 × 25 min. 21 September 2009 7 January 2010 5 January 2010
The Aztecs 4 × 25 min. 21 October 2002 2 December 2002 4 March 2003
The Aztecs - Special Edition 4 x 25 min. 11 March 2013 20 March 2013 12 March 2013
The Sensorites 6 × 25 min. 23 January 2012 2 February 2012 14 February 2012
The Reign of Terror (episodes 1-3 & 6 of 6, animated reconstructions of episodes 4 & 5) 6 × 25 min. 28 January 2013 6 February 2013 12 February 2013

Download/streaming availability[[edit] | [edit source]]

Serial name Amazon Video BritBox Google Play iTunes
An Unearthly Child
(4 episodes)
UK
The Daleks
(7 episodes)
UK
The Edge of Destruction
(2 episodes)
Marco Polo
The Keys of Marinus
(6 episodes)
The Aztecs
(4 episodes)
UK, US
The Sensorites
(6 episodes)
The Reign of Terror

BritBox is available only in the US and UK. iTunes stores carry Doctor Who serials in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the UK and US.

Novels[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audiobooks[[edit] | [edit source]]

Theatrical film[[edit] | [edit source]]

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]