Time traveller will remain on TV
- Publication: Shields Gazette
- Date: 1988-11-16
- Author:
- Page: 11
- Language: English
Dr. Who given 25-year pledge
DOCTOR WHO can look forward to travelling through time for another 25 years, it was disclosed yesterday.
The intrepid TV Doctor received the unexpected 25th birthday present from "Time Lords" at the BBC — who only two years ago threatened him with extinction.
Series producer John Nathan-Turner. among guests at Doctor Who's silver jubilee birthday party in London. said viewing figures for the science fiction adventure were up.
He added: "We have just been given the green light for a new season next autumn and a question mark no longer hangs over the Doctor's head.
"I see absolutely' no reason why we should not he back again celebrating our 50th anniversary before long.'.
Former BBC I chief Michael Grade, now head of Channel 4. scrapped the series for 18 months in 1986. ordering it to be "rested". He claimed it had become too violent and lacking in humour.
But the present Doctor Who. actor Sylvester McCoy. 44. today attacked the BBC for making "a wrong decision"
"I think they were a bit surprised by the public reaction. They were proved wrong. They had forgotten what they had in Doctor Who." said Mr McCoy. who was accompanied at yesterday's celebration by actress Sophie Aldred who plays Ace, the Doctor's latest assistant.
Mr Nathan-Turner added: "Doctor Who is a man who travels in time and space fighting evil. So from a purely historical point of view. we could run for 2,000 years."
Next year's series will feature 14 episodes and will cost £1 1/2 million.
The BBC says British audiences are now up to nearly six million and climbing. Around the world 110 million viewers in 65 countries regularly tune in to the adventures of the 900 year old Time Lord.
A special Doctor Who 25-year exhibition also opened yesterday, at the 3,001 Space Adventure Centre in Southwark, south London.
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- APA 6th ed.: (1988-11-16). Time traveller will remain on TV. Shields Gazette p. 11.
- MLA 7th ed.: "Time traveller will remain on TV." Shields Gazette [add city] 1988-11-16, 11. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "Time traveller will remain on TV." Shields Gazette, edition, sec., 1988-11-16
- Turabian: "Time traveller will remain on TV." Shields Gazette, 1988-11-16, section, 11 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Time traveller will remain on TV | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Time_traveller_will_remain_on_TV | work=Shields Gazette | pages=11 | date=1988-11-16 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=29 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Time traveller will remain on TV | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Time_traveller_will_remain_on_TV | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=29 March 2025}}</ref>
- Title: Time traveller will remain on TV
- Publication: Press Association
- Date: 1988-11-16
