Season 1 (Doctor Who 1963)

Season 1 — 1963-64
Doctor:	First Doctor
Companions:	Susan, Barbara, Ian
Key crew
Producer(s):	Verity Lambert
Script editors:	David Whitaker
Series details
Start date:	23 November 1963
End date:	12 September 1964
Premiere network:	BBC1
Typical episode length:	25'
More info
Main DWM coverage in issues:	113, 138, 209, 466
Main DWMSE coverage in issues:	7, 12, 34
Key reference books about the season:	The Discontinuity Guide, The First Doctor Handbook, The Sixties, Wiped!, About Time 1, The Complete History 1, TCH 2, TCH 3
Key documentaries about the season:	Jacqueline Hill - A Life in Pictures
Relevant Myth Makers interviews:	Carole Ann Ford, William Russell, Verity Lambert, Christopher Barry and Paul Bernard, Raymond Cusick, William Hartnell, Barry Newbery, Tristram Cary, Waris Hussein
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You may wish to consult Series 1 for other, similarly-named pages.

Season 1 of Doctor Who ran between 23 November 1963 and 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 the companions Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright. The season opened with An Unearthly Child and concluded with The Reign of Terror.

Overview

It consisted of eight serials and forty-two episodes, and 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

#	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 and only story set entirely within the TARDIS, with no other cast apart from the regular actors.
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	First 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	Introduces the concept of changing history.
7	The Sensorites	Peter R. Newman	6	First story clearly stated to be set in the future.
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

• 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

• Dr. Who - William Hartnell
• Ian Chesterton - William Russell
• Barbara Wright - Jacqueline Hill
• Susan Foreman - Carole Ann Ford

Recurring

• Daleks - operated by Robert Jewell, Kevin Manser, Michael Summerton, Gerald Taylor, and voiced by Peter Hawkins, David Graham

Guest

• Za - Derek Newark
• Hur - Alethea Charlton
• Old Mother - Eileen Way
• Kal - Jeremy Young
• Horg - Howard Lang
• Temmosus - Alan Wheatley
• Alydon - John Lee
• Dyoni - Virginia Wetherell
• Ganatus - Philip Bond
• Antodus - Marcus Hammond
• Kristas - Jonathan Crane
• Elyon - Gerald Curtis
• Thals - Chris Browning, Katie Cashfield, Vez Delahunt, Kevin Glenny, Ruth Harrison, Lesley Hill, Steve Pokol, Jeanette Rossini, Eric Smith
• Marco Polo - Mark Eden
• Tegana - Derren Nesbitt
• Ping-Cho - Zienia Merton
• Kublai Khan - Martin Miller
• Chenchu - Jimmy Gardner
• Man at Lop - Leslie Bates
• Mongol Bandit - Michael Guest
• Malik - Charles Wade
• Acomat - Philip Voss
• Ling-Tau - Paul Carson
• Wang-Lo - Gabor Baraker
• Kuiju - Tutte Lemkow
• Empress - Claire Davenport
• Vizier - Peter Lawrence
• Office Foreman - Basil Tang
• Yeng - O. Ikeda
• Arbitan - George Coulouris
• Voords - Martin Cort, Peter Stenson, Gordon Wales
• Altos - Robin Phillips
• Sabetha - Katharine Schofield
• Voice of Morpho - Heron Carvic
• Warrior - Martin Cort
• Darrius - Edmund Warwick
• Vasor - Francis De Wolff
• Ice Soldiers - Michael Allaby, Alan James, Peter Stenson, Anthony Verner
• Tarron - Henley Thomas
• Larn - Michael Allaby
• Senior judge - Raf De La Torre
• First judge - Alan James
• Second judge - Peter Stenson
• Kala - Fiona Walker
• Aydan - Martin Cort
• Eyesen - Donald Pickering
• Guard - Alan James
• Yartek - Stephen Dartnell
• Autloc - Keith Pyott
• Tlotoxl - John Ringham
• Ixta - Ian Cullen
• Cameca - Margot Van der Burgh
• First Victim - Tom Booth
• Aztec Captain - David Anderson
• Tonila - Walter Randall
• Perfect Victim - Andre Boulay
• John - Stephen Dartnell
• Carol - Ilona Rodgers
• Maitland - Lorne Cossette
• First Sensorite - Ken Tyllsen
• Second Sensorite - Joe Greig
• Third Sensorite - Peter Glaze
• Fourth Sensorite - Arthur Newall
• First Elder - Eric Francis
• Second Elder - Bartlett Mullins
• Sensorites - Anthony Rogers, Gerry Martin
• First Scientist - Ken Tyllsen
• Second Scientist - Joe Greig
• Warrior - Joe Greig
• Commander - John Bailey
• First Human - Martyn Huntley
• Second Human - Giles Phibbs
• Small Boy - Peter Walker
• Rouvray - Laidlaw Dalling
• D'Argenson - Neville Smith
• Sergeant - Robert Hunter
• Lieutenant - Ken Lawrence
• Soldier - James Hall
• Judge - Howard Charlton
• Jailer - Jack Cunningham
• Webster - Jeffry Wickham
• Overseer - Dallas Cavell
• Peasant - Dennis Cleary
• James Stirling - James Cairncross
• Jean - Roy Herrick
• Jules Renan - Donald Morley
• Shopkeeper - John Barrard
• Danielle - Caroline Hunt
• Léon Colbert - Edward Brayshaw
• Maximilien Robespierre - Keith Anderson
• Physician - Ronald Pickup
• Soldier - Terry Bale
• Paul Barras - John Law
• Napoléon Bonaparte - Tony Wall
• Soldier - Patrick Marley

Production

Creation

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, scenario for the first episode), Anthony Coburn (Susan's name, the TARDIS looking like a police box, the idea that the Doctor's ship would have an abbreviated/acronymic name), and David Whitaker (Susan as the Doctor's granddaughter).

Production overview

Verity Lambert was chosen by Sydney Newman as producer of the series (though 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 on the mainly 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 100,000 BC and came close to going no further. This was extended to thirteen episodes, but the production team had either eleven (100,000 BC and The Mutants) or eighteen (100,000 BC, The Mutants, Marco Polo). To solve this problem, David Whitaker wrote the two episode Inside the Spaceship, something that normally wouldn't have happened due to an existing rule that prohibited script editors writing for the series they were editing. (Otherwise, they could simply have "hired" themselves and deprived 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:

• The Masters of Luxor (a.k.a. The Robots) by Anthony Coburn
• The Hidden Planet (a.k.a. Beyond the Sun) by Malcolm Hulke
• The Red Fort by Terry Nation
• Farewell Great Macedon by Moris Farhi
• The Miniscules by C. E. Webber (a variant on this idea appeared as Planet of Giants, aired during Season 2)

Stories set before this season

Novels

Telos Publishing

• Frayed is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan Foreman.
• Time and Relative relates the events leading up to An Unearthly Child.

Short stories

Short Trips

• One Virtue, and a Thousand Crimes is set before the First Doctor flees Gallifrey.
• The Exiles is set immediately after the First Doctor and Susan Foreman depart Gallifrey.
• Childhood Living is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan Foreman.
• Indian Summer is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan Foreman.
• The Price of Conviction is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan Foreman.
• Bide-a-Wee is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan Foreman.
• The Gift is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan Foreman.
• Losing the Audience is set during the First Doctor and Susan's stay on Earth in 1963.
• The Splintered Gate features Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright not long before they meet the Doctor.

Yearbooks

• Urrozdinee is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan Foreman.

Puffin eshorts

• A Big Hand for the Doctor is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan Foreman.

The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who

• The Arboreals is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan Foreman.

Audio stories

The Companion Chronicles

• The Beginning recounts the TARDIS' maiden voyage.
• The Alchemists is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan Foreman.
• The Sleeping Blood is set during the travels of the First Doctor and Susan Foreman.
• Quinnis is set immediately before the First Doctor and Susan's arrival on Earth in 1963.

Destiny of the Doctors

• Hunters of Earth is set during the First Doctor and Susan's stay on Earth in 1963.

Comics

Doctor Who Magazine

• Operation Proteus is set during the First Doctor and Susan's stay on Earth in 1963.

Stories set during this season

Novels

Virgin Missing Adventures

• The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Set between Marco Polo and The Keys of Marinus)

BBC Past Doctor Adventures

• City at World's End (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• The Witch Hunters (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)

Short stories

Doctor Who Magazine

• Who Discovered America? (Set between Marco Polo and The Keys of Marinus)
• Rennigan's Record (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)

Short Trips

• The Ruins of Time (Set between Marco Polo and The Keys of Marinus)
• The Last Days (Set between The Aztecs and The Sensorites)
• Mire and Clay (Set between The Aztecs and The Sensorites)
• The Duke's Folly (Set between The Aztecs and The Sensorites)
• The Mother Road (Set between The Aztecs and The Sensorites)
• Tell Me You Love Me (Set between The Aztecs and The Sensorites)
• Nothing at the End of the Lane (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• The Thief of Sherwood (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)

Audio

The Companion Chronicles

• The Transit of Venus (Set between The Sensorites and The Reign of Terror)
• E is for... (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• The Library of Alexandria (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• The Flames of Cadiz (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• Here There Be Monsters (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• The Wanderer (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)

Short Trips

• A Small Semblance of Home (Set between Marco Polo and The Keys of Marinus)
• Rise and Fall (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• A Star is Born (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• Flywheel Revolution (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)

The Lost Stories

• The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance (Set between The Aztecs and The Sensorites)
• Farewell, Great Macedon (Set between The Aztecs and The Sensorites)
• The Masters of Luxor (Set between The Aztecs and The Sensorites)

The Early Adventures

• Domain of the Voord (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• The Age of Endurance (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)

The First Doctor Adventures

• The Destination Wars (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• The Great White Hurricane (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• The Invention of Death (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• The Barbarians and the Samurai (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• The Phoenicians (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• Tick-Tock World (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• Return to Skaro (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)
• Last of the Romanovs (Set between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants)

Comics

• In-Between Times (Set between Marco Polo and The Keys of Marinus)
• The Path of Skulls (Set between Marco Polo and The Keys of Marinus)
• The Forgotten (Set between The Keys of Marinus and The Aztecs)

Ratings

• 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

Home media

VHS releases

• 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

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

DVD & Blu-ray releases

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

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

Novels

• Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child
• Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks
• Doctor Who – The Edge of Destruction
• Doctor Who - Marco Polo
• Doctor Who and the Keys of Marinus
• Doctor Who - The Aztecs
• Doctor Who – The Sensorites
• Doctor Who – The Reign of Terror

Audiobooks

• Marco Polo
• The Reign of Terror

Theatrical film

• Dr. Who and the Daleks - based upon the second serial, The Daleks.

External links

• BBC Website Guide to Season 1