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. Ultimately, this did not occur; instead, a "specially packaged" preview clip from DW: The End of Time was announced for broadcast during the 20th November appeal.
Timeline
1983
- 25th Nov - The Fifth Doctor lands in the studio and donates his coat to be auctioned.
- 25th Nov - The Five Doctors is broadcast during the nights appeal.
1985
- 22nd Nov - Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and then producer John Nathan-Turner visit the Blackpool Doctor Who Exhibition.
- 22nd Nov - In the studio Terry Wogan and Patrick Moore welcome a plethora of Doctors and companions as they emerge from the Tardis to pressent a cheque.
1993
- 26th Nov - The first episode of the two part 3-D mini story, Dimensions in Time, is broadcast during the nights appeal. After viewers were asked to phone in and vote for which EastEnders character would save the Doctor at the start of Part Two. The mimi story was also produced to celebrate the shows 30th anniversary.
- 27th Nov - The second episode of Dimensions in Time is broadcast during a special Children in Need edition of Noel Edmonds House Party.
2003
- 21st Nov - The Dead Ringers team produced 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
- 14th Oct - 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. £20,000 was raised.
- 18th Nov - The Children in Need Special is broadcast, introducing the Tenth Doctor.
- 18th Nov - David Tennant and Billie Piper appeared in three short appeal films.
2006
- 17th Nov - David Tennant and Freema Agyeman appear in a short appeal film on the night.
- 19th Nov - 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. £52,000 was raised.
2007
- 16th Nov - Time Crash is broadcast, featuring the Fifth and Tenth Doctors.
2008
- 8th & 9th Nov - The Doctor Who Production Team ran 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.
- 14th Nov - A preview of The Next Doctor is broadcast during the nights appeal.
2009
- 20th Nov - A preview of The End of Time was broadcast during the night's appeal.
2010
- 21-24 Feb - The Doctor Who Props and Costumes Auction held at Bonhams had £5 from each £15 catalogue going to Children in Need.
Note: The Doctor Who group, Hyde Fundrasiers, raises money for Children in Need and other charities throughout the year.
