The iconic science fiction series Doctor Who first graced television screens on November 23, 1963, captivating audiences from the very beginning. Promoted in the Radio Times as a thrilling “Saturday-afternoon television series of adventures in time and space,” the show opened with Ron Grainer’s now-legendary theme tune, realized by Delia Derbyshire, and Bernard Lodge’s mesmerizing title sequence. But for many new viewers, the most pressing question was: who was the first Doctor?
The inaugural episode, titled ‘An Unearthly Child’, introduced viewers to school teachers Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton, played by Jacqueline Hill and William Russell. Their curiosity is piqued by their student, Susan Foreman, portrayed by Carole Anne Ford. Following Susan, they uncover an extraordinary secret in a junkyard: a seemingly ordinary police box that is, in fact, the TARDIS – a time and space machine, far larger on the inside than its exterior suggests.
This groundbreaking episode, penned by Anthony Coburn, revealed not only the TARDIS and its impossible dimensions but also the central figure of the series: Susan’s grandfather, the Doctor. This enigmatic traveler was embodied by William Hartnell. Fearing exposure by the inquisitive teachers, the Doctor makes the drastic decision to bring Barbara and Ian aboard the TARDIS, initiating their journey into the unknown. The episode concludes with the TARDIS materializing in a stark, alien landscape, a shadow falling across the ship, hinting at countless adventures to come.
Doctor Who with William Hartnell as the first Doctor, enjoyed an initial run until 1989, followed by a television film in 1996. Its enduring appeal led to a triumphant revival in 2005, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of Saturday evening family entertainment and British television history. The legacy of the first Doctor, William Hartnell, remains a vital part of the show’s enduring success and ongoing story.
