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The Man in Charge

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50th anniversary special
23 November 2013
2013-11-23 Radio Times cover.jpg
Radio Times anniversary specials
10th (1973) | 20th (1983) | 30th (1993) | 40th (2003) | 50th (2013) | 60th (2023)

2013-11-23 Radio Times p29.jpg

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A childhood fan, little did Tony Hall know that one day he'd be in control... as BBC director-general

I DON'T REMEMBER hiding behind the sofa, but I do remember being scared out of my wits. From my first episode, I was hooked. My Doctor was William Hartnell. We all have one, the Doctor that we met first. And for most of us, through all those regenerations, they stay with us as the Doctor.

I watched every episode he was in. And the Peter Cushing films, too - who could forget Bernard Cribbins battling Daleks in the rubble of London? I talked about each episode at school and we all wondered where we'd take the Tardis if we got the chance [see page 51 for more ideas].

It's hard to know quite why the show was such an instant success, or so enduring. Looking back, it had a cardboardy quality that seems quaint now. Perhaps it was something about the eccentric, stern yet kindly early Doctors that reminded us of the Mr Chips-style teachers of fiction and popular imagination. Or perhaps it was simply that we all dream of time travel. And we are all mesmerised by the immensity of space.

The pure adventure of the first few Doctors especially David Tennant, and their hint of melancholy. It brought a side to the character we missed in my day. But it's the optimism of the Time Lord, his ability to see the good in humans, that always shines through. The Doctor believes in us even when we don't believe in ourselves.

IF I MAY be allowed a small plug, it was the BBC that brought William Hartnell to that scrapyard in 1963. The BBC who nurtured it and invented the miracle of regeneration to explain cast changes. And after the decision to cancel the show was reversed, it was the BBC who reinvented it with some of the best acting and writing on television, anywhere in the world.

And you can now watch the Doctor almost anywhere in that world - in 206 territories to be exact, including the USA, Australia, Germany, France and Italy. Each has fans tuning in and buying the merchandise. The trailer for series six on YouTube was the third most viewed entertainment video in the world and the Doctor Who Facebook page has 2.3 million fans. All that helps the BBC generate income to spend on high-quality programmes at home, not to mention burnishing the British reputation for innovation and quality in TV.

Quite possibly the most exciting moment of my time as DG came during a visit to the set in Cardiff. The cast and crew let me "fly" the Tardis, that is to say, stand at the central console while they ran the special effect lights. I was the Birkenhead schoolboy again. And at one point Matt Smith leant over and said, "Whatever you do, don't touch that." And just for a moment, it was all I wanted to do. Set a course and head off to the galaxy.

Win the Doctor's Bow Tie!

To enter the competition, visit radiotimes.com/drwho50 and answer the following question:

In which country were missing episodes of Doctor Who recently discovered? a) Kenya b) Australia c) Nigeria

Closing date for entries is 11:59pm on 3 December 2013. Terms and conditions apply; please see website for details.

It's a money-can't-buy prize - the bow tie worn by Matt Smith's Doctor on screen!

The main prize also includes an incredible selection of merchandise, including a Ride-In Dalek and RT bookazines on the companions signed by Matt Smith and on the ninth and tenth Doctors signed by David Tennant.

Two second-prize winners and two runners-up win a fabulous bundle of official goods, including DVDs, stationery and household items, from BBCShop.com.


Caption: DESTINY CALLING Matt Smith's Doctor and Jenna Coleman as Clara in the Tardis control room

TWO COMPANIONS, SAME MAN

Bernard Cribbins in the 1966 film Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 AD and as Wilf in 2009

Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org

  • APA 6th ed.: Hall, Tony (2013-11-23). The Man in Charge. Radio Times p. 28.
  • MLA 7th ed.: Hall, Tony. "The Man in Charge." Radio Times [add city] 2013-11-23, 28. Print.
  • Chicago 15th ed.: Hall, Tony. "The Man in Charge." Radio Times, edition, sec., 2013-11-23
  • Turabian: Hall, Tony. "The Man in Charge." Radio Times, 2013-11-23, section, 28 edition.
  • Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=The Man in Charge | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/The_Man_in_Charge | work=Radio Times | pages=28 | date=2013-11-23 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=16 March 2025 }}</ref>
  • Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=The Man in Charge | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/The_Man_in_Charge | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=16 March 2025}}</ref>


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