On November 23, 1963, a television series debuted that would become a cornerstone of British popular culture and a global phenomenon: Doctor Who. The Radio Times of that week heralded “a new Saturday-afternoon television series of adventures in time and space,” setting the stage for a journey into the unknown. Viewers were immediately captivated by the haunting theme tune, a piece of electronic innovation from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop crafted by Ron Grainer and realized by Delia Derbyshire, accompanied by Bernard Lodge’s mesmerizing title sequence.
The inaugural episode, titled ‘An Unearthly Child’, introduced audiences to two schoolteachers, Barbara Wright portrayed by Jacqueline Hill, and Ian Chesterton played by William Russell. Their curiosity is piqued by their enigmatic student, Susan Foreman, brought to life by Carole Anne Ford. Intrigued by Susan’s unusual nature, they follow her back to a junkyard, where they stumble upon a seemingly ordinary police box. This mundane exterior hid an astonishing secret: the police box was in fact the TARDIS, a time and space machine, far larger on the inside than its external dimensions suggested.
‘An Unearthly Child’, penned by Anthony Coburn, not only revealed the TARDIS but also introduced the enigmatic figure at the heart of the series. Susan’s grandfather, Who Was First Doctor Who, was revealed to be the Doctor, played by William Hartnell. Fearing exposure by the inquisitive teachers and to protect the secret of their time-traveling existence, the Doctor makes the drastic decision to abduct Barbara and Ian, drawing them into his universe of adventure. The episode concludes with the TARDIS materializing in a desolate landscape, a mysterious shadow looming over it, a cliffhanger that promised countless adventures to come.
Doctor Who enjoyed an initial run until 1989, followed by a television film in 1996. Its enduring appeal, however, led to a triumphant return in 2005, playing a pivotal role in the resurgence of Saturday evening family entertainment and cementing the legacy of who was first Doctor Who and the timeless adventures that began with William Hartnell.
