Unlike other fictional universes, the Doctor Who universe is created solely by fiction. To us, this is not a valid source. Information from this source can only be used in "behind the scenes" sections, or on pages about real world topics.
The Television Companion was published in 1998.
Publisher's summary
First edition
The complete guide to every Doctor Who story ever screened — in one bumper volume!
For the first time, here at your fingertips is everything you ever wanted to know about the Doctor's exploits on television, from the very first programme transmitted in 1963 through to the TV movie of 1996.
Every story is covered in depth in all aspects of production, including plot details, cast lists, episode endings, transmission dates, memorable quotes and popular myths. In addition, there is an analysis of each story, looking at the highs and lows of every adventure, utilising reviews both contemporary and retrospective from a variety of sources.
This book is the essential companion for every trip you will ever take into the TV universe of Doctor Who.
Second edition
The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Doctor Who
Everything you ever wanted to know about the cult BBC Television series Doctor Who which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2003.
On its first publication, The Television Companion was hailed as possibly the best guide ever to the BBC's cult science fiction show Doctor Who. Now re-issued in a revised and updated edition, the book remains the definitive guide to the television worlds and adventures of the Doctor and his companions.
Every story is covered in depth in all aspects of production, including plot details, cast and crew lists, episode endings, transmission dates, memorable quotes and popular myths. In addition there is a comprehensive analysis of every adventure, utilising reviews both contemporary and retrospective from a wide variety of sources.
This book is the essential companion for every trip you will ever take into the TV universe of Doctor Who.
Third edition
Everything you ever wanted to know about the cult BBC Television series Doctor Who (1963-1996).
On its first publication in 2002, The Television Companion was hailed as possibly the best guide ever to the BBC's cult science fiction show Doctor Who. Now Telos re-issues their own edition of the book in a revised and updated version spanning two volumes, which remains the definitive guide to the television worlds and adventures of the Doctor and his companions.
Every story from 1963 to 1996 is covered in depth in all aspects of production, including plot details, cast and crew lists, episode endings, transmission dates, memorable quotes and popular myths. In addition there is a comprehensive analysis of every adventure, utilising reviews both contemporary and retrospective from a wide variety of sources.
This is the essential companion for every trip you will ever take into the TV universe of classic Doctor Who.
Subject matter
A detailed information for every story through the original run of 1963 to 1989 including the 1996 TV movie.
Notable features
First Edition
- Some of the stories listed use alternate or (disputed story titles), An Unearthly Child is listed as 100,000 BC and The Daleks is listed as The Mutants.
- The Pilot Episode is given a separate listing to 100,000 BC (An Unearthly Child).
- Sections of each story are divided into sections: a list of crew, a list of the story titles/episodes, a plot summary, brief episode endings, additional credited cast list, popular myths about the story, things to watch out for (interesting things through the story), things you probably never knew about the story, and "Quote, unquote" (interesting quotes from the story). Each entry ends with an analysis of the story with quotes and excerpts from several Fanzines.
Notes
- David J. Howe details how the first edition of the book came about at Howe's Who: The Television Companion.