On Saturday November 23, 1963, a legend was born.
But those of us who watched a rather battered police box materialise on our black and white TV screens that winter's evening could hardly have realised it.
We would certainly never have forecast that, 26 years later, 110 million people throughout the world would be hopeless addicts of a science fiction phenomenon.
Dr Who had arrived. And as a packed audience at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre demonstrated last night, his appeal is as compelling as ever.
Doctor freaks like myself may have been a little apprehensive at his translation to the straight stage, I can set their minds at rest.
Dr Who, The Ultimate Adventure, takes no undue liberties with the spirit of the original — though the handful of musical numbers add little.
Jon Pertwee slips easily bat into his Time Lord cloak, au the Daleks and Cybermen at instant stars.
The storyline also contains that element of humour and gentle self-mockery which is such a strength of the TV series.
As when the Doctor, after an interview with Mrs Thatcher, comments: "I can cope with anything from Daleks to dinosaurs, but frankly that woman terrifies me."
I have left the best till last, however, The special effects arc quite simply stunning.
The laser displays are the finest I have ever seen in a theatre and can certainly rival anything the square box can produce.
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