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A policeman was patrolling the Coal Hill area through Totter's Lane on a foggy night in November 1963. As he passed a junkyard, he shone his torch on its wooden gate, which read "I.M. Foreman — Scrap Merchant — Totters Lane". He paused for a moment, then moved on to continue his patrol.
The policeman did not notice nor bother about the humming sound coming from the TARDIS that was hidden inside the junkyard. (TV: "An Unearthly Child")
The policeman had stopped by before and had noticed the police box, and found it curious that such a thing should be in a junkyard — reasoning to himself that the box was there because it had worn out and had been sold for scrap. He had heard a rumour that police boxes were eventually going to be phased out altogether in favour of every constable having a personal walkie talkie radio, but personally didn't believe such a thing would ever happen. The policeman returned to the junkyard the next night to find the police box gone, and ended up thinking he must have imagined it. (PROSE: Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child)
Behind the scenes
- The policeman has the honour of being first character to appear on-screen in Doctor Who.
- Reg Cranfield played the policeman seen during the opening credits of "The Pilot Episode" and "An Unearthly Child" according to the BBC Production Paperwork 1 and 2.
- Some sources credit the role in the Pilot Episode to Fred Rawlings 1, 2, 3 and 4. Either these sources are mistaken or Rawlings played the part in one of the unused versions and the BBC Production Paperwork is mistaken.