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TOP TV GUIDE
DR WHO, that loveable space traveller of many faces, has been gracing TV screens around the world for 20 years. Today KEVIN SADLIER traces the doctor's 'movements'.
HAPPY birthday, Dr Who!
That amazing time lord, who has enthralled and entertained millions of followers around the world, is 20.
It is 20 years today since the first episode of the first series was screened on BBC-TV.
Five different Dr Whos since travelled millions of kilometres and millions of years through space and time fighting such nasty villains as Daleks and Cybermen.
The 20th anniversary will be marked in Britain and the United States by a 90 — minute special, Dr Who: The Ultimate Celebration — a program which Australian viewers will see on December 13.
Why has the series been so successful?
BBC's John Nathan-Turner explains:
"We have a foolproof basic premise that can never go stale.
"Put a man and his mates in a police box, send them to outer space and you can do whatever you want."
That "police box" is of course Dr Who's amazing time capsule, the Tardis.
Because of the flexibility the Tardis gives to the series, Dr Who can travel forward or backward in time to any destination.
Nathan-Turner is the ninth producer the series has had in its 20-year history.
Changing producers is easy, he says. Changing Dr Whos can be a problem.
"People react to a new Dr Who with difficulty," Mr Nathan-Turner said.
"The last transition was the most difficult.
"The current Dr Who, Peter Davison, had to follow Tom Baker who had played the role for seven years.
"That meant we had many young viewers who had only ever known Baker in the role.
"But after several episodes with Davison, people adjusted."
British fans will be put to the test again next March when a sixth Dr Who, Colin Baker (no relation to Tom), takes over the role.
The first Dr Who was William Hartnell. He was followed by Patrick Troughton who, in turn, was followed by Jon Pertwee.
Tom Baker took over from Pertwee in the mid-70s.
Despite the show's ability to adapt to its times and its audience, certain changes seem most unlikely.
Mr Nathan-Turner was asked if Dr Who might, one day, be played by a woman.
"That would be a foolhardy mission," he said.
Footnote: ABC-TV is currently repeating, again, episodes of Dr Who starring Tom Baker.
Tonight, at 630, the Doctor and Sarah can be see in a desperate fight against yet another improbable villain — the giant vegetable Krynoid!
Caption: The many faces of Dr Who - from the original, William Hartnell (above left) to the most recent, Colin Baker (left) who's pictured with his co-star Nicola Bryant. In between were Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker and Peter Davison.
Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org
