Children in Need
- This article is about the charity appeal. For the Tenth Doctor mini-episode, see Children in Need Special.
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Donations are usually collected during telethons during November, and the BBC often commissions special episodes or other productions to air during this time.
Doctor Who has had a long association with Children in Need, and has produced no less than five original productions (four storyline-related, one concert) that were aired as part of the annual appeal.
The first and most extravagant of these was the 90-minute special episode The Five Doctors, which aired in November 1983 to mark the 20th anniversary of the series, which also coincided with that year's Children in Need Appeal.
In 1993, a two-part "mini-story" entitled Dimensions in Time was broadcast. This was a crossover with another popular series, EastEnders, and was originally broadcast in 3-D. All surviving Doctors (including Tom Baker) and many of the surviving companions appeared in this pastiche written by John Nathan-Turner which asked viewers to choose which EastEnders character would "save the day" in the second episode. The special - produced to mark the programme's 30th anniversary in lieu of the cancelled The Dark Dimension, was not well receieved by fans and today is not considered canonical (unlike the other specials).
Since the revival of the series in 2005, Doctor Who has twice presented mini-episodes for Children in Need. The first, known variously as the Pudsey Cutaway or, simply, Children in Need Special, aired in November 2005 and served to introduce audiences to David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, providing a link between the end of The Parting of the Ways and The Christmas Invasion.
For 2006, the series presented a special televised concert of music from the series (which was later condensed into a special episode of Doctor Who Confidential).
In 2007, another mini-episode was produced to link Last of the Time Lords and Voyage of the Damned: Time Crash was a milestone production for the series revival and it featured the return of Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, making it the first multi-Doctor story of the revived series.
For the 2008 appeal, there was insufficient time for the production team to prepare an original production (according to Russell T Davies writing in Doctor Who Magazine), although there were subsequent media rumours of a potential reunion of the surviving Doctors. Ultimately, the show's contribution consisted of the pre-credits teaser from the upcoming Christmas special, The Next Doctor.
In early 2009, Davies, writing again in DWM, hinted about the possibility of a further mini-episode being produced for the 2009 appeal; as of September 2009 nothing has been confirmed.
Timeline
- 1983 - The Five Doctors is broadcast during the nights appeal. Also the Fifth Doctor lands in the studio and donates his coat to be auctioned.
- 1985 - Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and producer John Nathan-Turner visit the Blackpool Doctor Who Exhibition to collect donations. Back in the studio Terry Wogan and Patrick Moore welcome a plethora of Doctors and companions as they emerge from the Tardis to present a cheque.
- 1993 - The two part 3-D mini story, Dimensions in Time, is broadcast during the night. The mini story was also produced to celebrate the shows 30th anniversary.
- 2003 - The Dead Ringers team produce a sketch featuring the Fourth (Jon Culshaw), Sixth (Colin Baker) and Seventh (Sylvester McCoy) Doctors playing the Weakest Link. Also stars K9, a Cyberman, a Sontaran and a Sea Devil. Written by Nev Fountain.
- 2005 - The Children in Need Special is broadcast, introducing the Tenth Doctor. Also David Tennant and Billie Piper appeared in three short appeal films. Plus the Doctor Who Production Team ran the "Doctor Who Galactic Dinner", featuring a black tie dinner, a memorabilia auction and the chance to meet David Tennant, Billie Piper and executive producer Russell T Davies.
- 2006 - The Doctor Who Production Team host "Doctor Who a Celebration". A speical music concert held at the Wales Millennium Centre, featuring Murray Gold's music from the series. Hosted by David Tennant. Also David Tennant and Freema Agyeman appear in a short appeal film.
- 2007 - Time Crash is broadcast, featuring the Fifth and Tenth Doctors.
- 2008 - A preview of The Next Doctor is broadcast. The Doctor Who Production Team also hold a competition for 400 people to win a tour around the Upper Boat studio. Winners also got the chance to meet John Barrowman and Eve Myles.
Note: The Doctor Who group, Hyde Fundrasiers, raise money for Children in Need and other charities throughout the year.
