OK, so the character of the Doctor is, according to the series’ increasingly confused chronology 1,103 years old. But the TV series first went to air forty-eight years ago today… which is to say, tomorrow. Anyone got a TARDIS I can borrow to sort this out?
Two years to go to the big half-century since William Hartnell first took on the role of the Doctor, but if you wanted to be precise, the first episode went to air in the UK at 5:16pm on November 23rd 1963, which would equate to roughly 4:16am tomorrow morning for most of Australia’s eastern seaboard. I may just have to set my alarm clock especially.
If you feel like being particularly chronologically challenged, it’s worth noting that Australian transmissions didn’t commence until Tuesday 12 January 1965 in Perth, so again, technically speaking, Doctor Who won’t be 48 in Australia until 2013, when it’ll also be 50 years old. And now my head hurts. I think I need a Doctor. [Doctor Who]
villainsoft
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 2:12 PMCorrect me if I’m wrong, but the Daleks also feature in the first episode with Hartnell, so its a joint-birthday.
Alex Kidman
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 2:16 PMHate to have to do this, but you’re wrong; while there’s some debate as to the *title* of the first story, it’s got nothing to do with the Daleks, who were in the second Doctor Who story. They’ll be 48 in a month’s time, give or take.
villainsoft
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 4:07 PMno prob. correcting people when they are wrong about sci-fi is what the internet was invented for.
Terry OFee
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 3:37 PMWe had cavemen for the first story. We got to see a familiar plunger in the very last moments, but thats it :)
Gelf
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 6:54 PMDepends on if going by episodes or serials, by how showed in UK or overseas. The 1st Ep, An Unearthly Child had no Cavemen but the rest of that arc/serial did {Cave of Skulls, Forest of Fear, Firemaker] and was later distributed 1million BC. Can still rem watching it on gran’s tube
.
Neil Sullivan
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 5:05 AMNot even a plunger in the first story. You’re thinking of the end of the 1st episode of the Dalek story.
Frank M
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 2:24 PMThey’re Daleks! Why would anyone want to celebrate their birthday? Vile creatures they are.
Blake
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 2:29 PMYeah the first story was ‘An Unearthly Child’ or ’100,000 BC’, it had cave people and the doctor showed them his mastery of fire.
The Daleks and their static electricity city will be 48 in about a month.
Aliasalpha
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 7:23 PMHe also showed his willingness to kill someone with a rock because they were in his way. Far cry from the more anti-violence message the show adopted
Nat
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 7:20 PMI remember as a kid being scared silly watching those early Dr Who series with William Hartnell. The BBC had to tone them down a bit after parents complained.
I’m glad the Doctor is still with us.
Aliasalpha
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 7:31 PMQuicl nerd quiz: Why was transmission of the very first episode slightly behind schedule?
JM
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 8:19 PMAll I know is that the first episode was aired one day after the Kennedy assassination
Beverly
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 12:20 AMI so wish they could find the missing episodes (Genghis Khan) and re-air it.. Happy Birthday Doctor Who. Been a fan from the very first episode (Unearthly Child)
Matt
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 6:38 AM48 Years of crap TV.. YAY!!