Doctor Who is the longest-running science fiction show in the world, with 2023 marking its 60th Anniversary. When it first aired in 1963, it was an instant hit and it has carried that popularity with it over the decades, even over into another Millennium.
Since its revival in 2005, Doctor Who is still extremely well liked to this day. Fans all over the world enjoy watching the sci-fi drama and after almost 60 years, there are still lots of interesting facts, both in front and behind the cameras, that only die-hard fans will know.
The First Classic Monster To Return In The New Series Was The Autons
Back in 2005, Doctor Who made a triumphant return with the airing of "Rose", the series premiere of the New Series. The monster most associated with the sci-fi drama is the Daleks, with them having first appeared in only the second ever Doctor Who serial.
Naturally, then, fans were expecting the villains to make an appearance very early on. However, the past (and ) show-runner Russell T. Davies decided to bring back the Autons instead in the first episode, likely to demonstrate to fans that this version was definitely a continuation of the original.
Rose Tyler Almost Fronted Her Own Spin-Off
Rose Tyler was the Doctor's first companion of the modern series. She was incredibly popular which made her exit in the Season 2 finale all the more tragic and heartbreaking. Trapped in a parallel world without the Doctor, Rose's story seemed to be over.
However, Russell T. Davies had other ideas. He and the BBC planned to give Rose her own show, Rose Tyler: Earth Defence. It would have shown Rose having adventures on her Earth but unfortunately, Davies decided to not go ahead with the show.
Season 4 Initially Didn't Bring Back Donna Noble
Season 4 of Doctor Who will be ed for reuniting the Doctor with Donna Noble. In her first appearance, Donna was brash, rude, and angry, creating friction between her and the Doctor. However, with her return, she became one of the best companions of the modern era.
Interestingly, in the very early stages of planning for Season 4, Davies was trying to think of a new companion for the Doctor. He wanted someone a bit older and angrier, someone jilted. He came up with Penny Carter, as discussed in his book, The Writer's Tale.
"Blink" Was Based Off Of A Short Story
"Blink" is one of the most popular Doctor Who episodes, with an IMDb rating of 9.8/10. This is a fantastic score, made all the more impressive given that it's actually a Doctor-lite episode. However, the debut of the iconic Weeping Angels makes it absolutely terrifying.
Originally, Steven Moffat first created the Doctor trapped in the past sending messages to the future in his short story, best characters to only appear in one episode) was just a teenage girl and there was a distinct lack of Angels.
Elisabeth Sladen First Appeared In The Opening Credits 35 Years After Her Debut
Elisabeth Sladen is best known for her role as Sarah Jane Smith, companion to the 3rd, 4th, 10th, and 11th Doctors. Her first serial, "The Time Warrior" aired in 1973 and Sarah Jane soon became one of the best companions the Doctor ever had.
Despite having featured regularly in Doctor Who for 3 years, it was only when she returned for the Season 4 finale that she appeared in the opening credits. This was due to the fact that only the actors who played the Doctor appeared in the credits in the Classic Series.
Doctor Who Is Continued Through Audio Dramas
While Doctor Who is still continues to appear on television to this day, there have been a number of accompanying audio dramas produced throughout the years. These particular adventures are a fantastic idea because they allow listeners to reconnect with Doctors past.
David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor.
The Show Holds Multiple World Records
Doctor Who's longevity isn't only great for the fans. In 2006, the time travelling drama was granted a Guinness World Record for the longest running television science fiction show. This was a massive achievement considering the show will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year.
In 2013, Doctor Who won yet another Guinness World Record for the best episodes from the Steven Moffat era) was broadcast simultaneously in 94 countries across six continents.
Some Of The Main Cast Have Appeared In Multiple Roles
Given that Doctor Who has been on air since 1963, it's only natural that there have been a few instances where actors have been cast in multiple roles. Before he became the Sixth Doctor, Colin Baker appeared in the Fifth Doctor serial, "Arc Of Infinity" as Commander Maxil.
Other examples include Karen Gillan appearing as a Soothsayer in "The Fires Of Pompeii", 2 years before debuting as Amy Pond. However, the actor with most roles is Peter Capaldi, who played Lobus Caecilius in the same episode, before going on to play John Frobisher in Torchwood: Children Of Earth. Capaldi is best known for his portrayal of the Twelfth Doctor.
Season 5 Of The Sarah Jane Adventures Would Have Featured The Return Of The Trickster
Due to Elisabeth Sladen's tragic death in 2011, only half of Season 5 of The Sarah Jane Adventures was filmed and completed. It was a fitting and touching tribute to Sarah Jane Smith but it still left fans with a lot of unanswered questions.
Thanks to a Special Edition of Doctor Who Magazine, details about the remaining episodes were released. The season finale would have featured the return of the Trickster, as well as Jo Jones. The Doctor's other former companion Ace would also have appeared.
Many Hollywood Actors Have Appeared In The Show
Doctor Who is extremely popular, and many actors are incredibly excited to get a chance to star in the series. Andrew Garfield, who played Peter Parker in one of Doctor Who's scariest aliens.
Ian McKellen lent his voice to the Great Intelligence in the 2012 Christmas Special while Kylie Minogue had a prominent appearance in "Voyage Of The Damned". Most notably, Karen Gillan went on to have a major role in the Jumanji franchise.