Going back in time with Doctor Who

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• Publication: TV Choice
• Date: 1999-11-13
• Author: Elaine Penn
• Page: 11
• Language: English

It's time to grab a cushion and head behind the sofa as the BBC celebrates Doctor Who Night this Saturday...

William Hartnell first emerged from the TARDIS as eccentric Time Lord, Doctor Who, nearly 36 years ago. Transmission of that first episode was slightly delayed due to the assassination of John F Kennedy.

No one could have guessed how popular this sci-fi show would become. Thirteen million viewers regularly tuned in at the peak of its popularity. Now Tom Baker, the fourth Doctor, introduces a themed night of documentaries and comedy on BBC2 that no fan should miss.

The evening kicks off with Doctor Who: Adventures In Space And Time, a documentary about the millennium-hopping Time Lord with a blood temperature 20 degrees below humans and the eight actors who have immortalised him. As well as featuring interviews with the surviving 'Doctors', the film reveals how the idea was created.

'Doctor Who was aimed at children to start with and was intended to be part education, part entertainment,' explains Mike Wadding, Doctor Who Night's producer. 'However, this plan went out of the window as soon as the Daleks arrived and they effectively secured the future for the series.'

Daleks play a big part in Carnival Of Monsters, a half-hour show about the Doctor's arch enemies, including the Cybermen and the Ice Warriors.

There are also two short films about issues raised by the show. The first looks at 'regeneration' — the Doctor's ability to live for ever. The second is about the TARDIS, which stands for Time And Relative Dimensions In Space, the police box which the doctor used as a time machine and was bigger inside than out.

Comedy sketches come from award-winner Mark Gatiss (The League Of Gentlemen), and finally, you can see Dr Who: The Movie, starring Paul McGann.

There is talk that the series could return if the themed night is popular.

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Docs on the box

Since 1963, Doctor Who has earned a special place in the hearts of many. And now Tom Baker (right), the fourth telly Doctor Who, introduces Doctor Who Night — over three hours of special programmes that feature all the Time Lords and a few of their many enemies.

Travel back to the days when an egg-box-covered wheelie bin with a plunger stuck in its middle could send millions of kids — and quite a few parents — scurrying behind the sofa. (See feature, page 11.)

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.: Penn, Elaine (1999-11-13). Going back in time with Doctor Who. TV Choice p. 11.
• MLA 7th ed.: Penn, Elaine. "Going back in time with Doctor Who." TV Choice [add city] 1999-11-13, 11. Print.
• Chicago 15th ed.: Penn, Elaine. "Going back in time with Doctor Who." TV Choice, edition, sec., 1999-11-13
• Turabian: Penn, Elaine. "Going back in time with Doctor Who." TV Choice, 1999-11-13, section, 11 edition.
• Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Going back in time with Doctor Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Going_back_in_time_with_Doctor_Who | work=TV Choice | pages=11 | date=1999-11-13 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=15 May 2025 }}</ref>
• Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Going back in time with Doctor Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Going_back_in_time_with_Doctor_Who | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=15 May 2025}}</ref>