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Series 1 of Doctor Who is also known as Season 27 to differentiate it from Season 1 of the original series, It ran between 26 March 2005 and 18 June 2005, nearly sixteen years after the last season of the "classic series" (broadcast 1963-1989) was aired. Unlike the "classic series", this was the first series produced by BBC Wales, shot primarily within Wales, with Cardiff often "standing in" for London.[1] This series starred Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose Tyler and later John Barrowman as Jack Harkness. The head writer of the series, Russell T Davies, was responsible for bringing Doctor Who back on television. He continued as head writer and executive producer until 2010. Davies wrote eight episodes of the thirteen-episode series, with writers Steven Moffat, Paul Cornell, Mark Gatiss and Robert Shearman writing the other five. Robert Shearman was the only one of these writers not to write for a future series.
Unlike the original Doctor Who series, in which stories consisted of as few as one (Mission to the Unknown) and as many as fourteen episodes (The Trial Of A Time Lord), stories in the revived series consist mainly of individual episodes and occasional two-or-three-parters.
Although it was a continuation of the earlier series, the BBC chose to restart its series numbering rather than risk alienating new viewers by branding this the twenty-seventh season. This series saw the show return to forty-five-minute episodes for the first time since 1985. Many episodes served to reintroduce concepts of Doctor Who to a new generation, with key episodes being Aliens of London, which reintroduced UNIT (albeit in a minor way), and Dalek, which reintroduced the Daleks.
Series 1 was unusually well-received. It won the National Television Award and BAFTA for "Best Drama Series", confirming its popular and critical success. Its BAFTA nomination was the first for the series since season 15 and the first ever for the programme in an "adult" category. Perhaps more importantly, it was the first time that a series of Doctor Who had actually won a BAFTA. Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper both won National Television Awards for "Favourite Actor" and "Favourite Actress". Writer Steven Moffat also began a three-year domination of the Hugo Award "Short Form Presentation" category by winning one for for his The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances two-parter.
Series 1 was later shown (after initial hesitation) by the American network Sci-Fi Channel - the first time a nationally broadcast commercial network had shown the series in the US.
This first season and those immediately following would credit the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for assistance in providing production support.[2] The season aired on the CBC only a few days after the UK broadcast, with Christopher Eccleston appearing in specially shot bumpers. (This practice did not continue beyond this first season.)
Overview
Series 1 introduced the Ninth Doctor along with new companion Rose Tyler. It dealt with the words "Bad Wolf" being spread across time and space, which was the main arc of the series. This meme was seen in the majority of the episodes.
Series 1 also provided the first major information about the Last Great Time War. The Parting of the Ways featured the revived series' first regeneration. The season also introduced Jack Harkness and planted the seed for the spin-off Torchwood.
Cast
Primary cast
Secondary cast
- Jack Harkness - John Barrowman
- Jackie Tyler - Camille Coduri
- Mickey Smith - Noel Clarke
- Adam Mitchell - Bruno Langley
Guest cast
- Clive Finch - Mark Benton
- Lady Cassandra - Zoë Wanamaker
- Jabe - Yasmin Bannerman
- Gwyneth - Eve Myles
- Charles Dickens - Simon Callow
- Harriet Jones - Penelope Wilton
- Joseph Green - David Verrey
- Margaret Blaine - Annette Badland
- Henry van Statten - Corey Johnson
- The Editor - Simon Pegg
- Pete Tyler - Shaun Dingwall
- Jamie - Albert Valentine
- Nancy - Florence Hoath
- Doctor Constantine - Richard Wilson
- Lynda Moss - Jo Joyner
- Rodrick - Paterson Joseph
- Voice of Daleks - Nicholas Briggs
Introducing
Television stories
| # | Title | Writer | Director | Notes |
| 1 | Rose | Russell T Davies | Keith Boak | First appearances of the Ninth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Jackie Tyler and Mickey Smith. Reintroduction of the Autons and the Nestene Consciousness. |
| 2 | The End of the World | Russell T Davies | Euros Lyn | First appearance of the Face of Boe and Cassandra. |
| 3 | The Unquiet Dead | Mark Gatiss | Euros Lyn | |
| 4&5 | Pt. 1: Aliens of London Pt. 2: World War Three |
Russell T Davies | Keith Boak | First appearance of Toshiko Sato and the Slitheen. |
| 6 | Dalek | Robert Shearman | Joe Ahearne | Reintroduction of the Daleks and first appearance of Adam Mitchell. |
| 7 | The Long Game | Russell T Davies | Brian Grant | Final appearance of Adam Mitchell - becoming the first companion to be kicked out of the TARDIS for bad behaviour. |
| 8 | Father's Day | Paul Cornell | Joe Ahearne | Introduction of Pete Tyler (Rose's father). |
| 9&10 | Pt. 1: The Empty Child Pt. 2: The Doctor Dances |
Steven Moffat | James Hawes | First appearance of Jack Harkness. |
| 11 | Boom Town | Russell T Davies | Joe Ahearne | Reappearance of the Slitheen. |
| 12&13 | Pt. 1: Bad Wolf Pt. 2: The Parting of the Ways |
Russell T Davies | Joe Ahearne | Final appearance of the Ninth Doctor and introduction of the Tenth Doctor; last regular appearance of Jack Harkness until Utopia. |
Adaptations and merchandising
Home media
DVD
All episodes of series 1 were released in 2005.
| Episode name | Number and duration of episodes |
R2 release date | R4 release date | R1 release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor Who: Volume 1 Rose The End of the World The Unquiet Dead |
3 × 45 min. | 16 May 2005 | 17 June 2005 | 7 November 2006 |
| Doctor Who: Volume 2 Aliens of London / World War Three Dalek |
3 × 45 min. | 13 June 2005 | 3 August 2005 | 7 November 2006 |
| Doctor Who: Volume 3 The Long Game Father's Day The Empty Child/ The Doctor Dances |
4 × 45 min. | 1 August 2005 | 31 August 2005 | 7 November 2006 |
| Doctor Who: Volume 4 Boom Town Bad Wolf/ The Parting of the Ways |
3 × 45 min. | 5 September 2005 | 6 October 2005 | 7 November 2006 |
| Doctor Who: The Complete First Series | 13 × 45 min. | 21 November 2005 | 8 December 2005 | 14 February 2006 (Canada) 4 July 2006 (US) |
Novels
Promotional trailers
For the series, several promotional trailers were created, utilising specially shot footage of the cast breaking the fourth wall and addressing viewers.
- The show's main trailer begins with an explosion rushing through a tunnel and the Doctor running. He enters the TARDIS and asks the viewer: "Do you want to come with me?" He walks around the console room, warning of the dangers that lie ahead, but promising "the trip of a lifetime." This promo uses an early arrangement of the Doctor Who theme that was replaced by a more upbeat arrangement for the series itself.
- Rose, in the console room, tells the viewer about the choice she had to make - working in a dull shop or chasing monsters. As the camera pulls back to show the Doctor standing behind her, she says, "What do you think?"
- Several short, wordless five-second "stings" were also produced. These showed closeups of the Doctor, Rose, the two together, and the TARDIS. No series logo or title is shown, with only a snippet of the Doctor Who theme or the TARDIS sound effect to identify the programme.
Trivia
- Since DW: Rose, there have been over 800 deaths in the new series. [source needed]
Footnotes
- ↑ First secrets from new Doctor Who. BBC NEWS - UK - WALES (Wednesday, 21 July, 2004). Retrieved on 2nd August 2011.
- ↑ BBC investigates Doctor Who leak. BBC NEWS - Entertainment (Tuesday, 8 March, 2005). Retrieved on 2nd August 2011.