| The Doctor | |
|---|---|
| The First Doctor | |
| Portrayed by | William Hartnell |
| Tenure | 1963–1966 |
| First appearance | An Unearthly Child |
| Last appearance | The Tenth Planet (regular) The Three Doctors The Five Doctors (played by Richard Hurndall) |
| Number of series | 4 |
| Appearances | 29 stories (134 episodes) |
| Companions | on television: Susan Foreman Barbara Wright Ian Chesterton Vicki Steven Taylor Katarina Sara Kingdom Dodo Chaplet Polly Ben Jackson in spin-offs: John and Gillian |
| Chronology | |
| Succeeding | Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) |
| Series | Seasons 1 to 4 |
The First Doctor is the name given to the initial incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and also features in William Henry Hartnell (8 January 1908 – 23 April 1975 was an English Actor, the first actor to play the lead role of the Doctor Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. The Tenth Planet is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in The Three Doctors is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, first broadcast in four weekly The Five Doctors is a special feature-length episode of the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced Richard Gibbon Hurndall ( November 3, 1910 &ndash April 13, 1984) was an English stage radio film and television actor Barbara Wright is a Fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and a companion of Ian Chesterton is a Fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and a companion Vicki is a fictional character played by Maureen O'Brien in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who Steven Taylor is a fictional character played by Peter Purves in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who Katarina is a fictional character played by Adrienne Hill in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who Sara Kingdom is a fictional character played by Jean Marsh in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who Dorothea "Dodo" Chaplet is a fictional character played by Jackie Lane in the long-running British science fiction television series Polly is a fictional character played by Anneke Wills in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Ben Jackson is a fictional character played by Michael Craze in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who John and Gillian, a young brother and sister are characters in the TV Comic strip based on the long-running British science fiction television The Second Doctor is the name given to the second incarnation of the Fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running Patrick George Troughton (25 March 1920 – 28 March 1987 was an English Actor most widely known in his role as the second incarnation of the This is a list of Doctor Who television serials and episodes. The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and also features in The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and also features in Science fiction first appeared on Television during the Golden age of science fiction, first in Britain (UK and then in the United States Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. He was portrayed by the actor William Hartnell during his tenure from 1963 to 1966, and by Richard Hurndall in 1983, after Hartnell's death. William Henry Hartnell (8 January 1908 – 23 April 1975 was an English Actor, the first actor to play the lead role of the Doctor Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Richard Gibbon Hurndall ( November 3, 1910 &ndash April 13, 1984) was an English stage radio film and television actor Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar)
At the inception of the series the Doctor was a mysterious character and little was known about him save that he had a granddaughter, Susan Foreman, and that they were from another time and another world. He had a time machine, the TARDIS, which was disguised as a police box and was bigger on the inside than on the outside. The TARDIS ( T ime A nd R elative D imension(s I n S pace is a time machine and Spacecraft in the A police box was in 20th century Britain, a special type of Telephone kiosk or Callbox for use by members of the Police, or for The TARDIS ( T ime A nd R elative D imension(s I n S pace is a time machine and Spacecraft in the He and Susan were in exile as well, for unspecified reasons. It would not be until the last adventure of the Doctor's second incarnation that the name of the Doctor's people (the Time Lords) would be revealed, and the third before the name of his home planet (Gallifrey) was first spoken. The Second Doctor is the name given to the second incarnation of the Fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running The Time Lords are a fictional race and civilization in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, of which the series' The Third Doctor is the name given to the third incarnation of the Fictional character known as the Doctor; seen on screen in the long-running Gallifrey is a fictional planet in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and is the homeworld
The series began with schoolteachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright investigating the mystery of Susan, a student who appeared to possess scientific and historical knowledge far beyond her years. Ian Chesterton is a Fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and a companion Barbara Wright is a Fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and a companion of Discovering the TARDIS in a scrapyard, they were involuntarily taken by the Doctor on a journey back to the year 100,000 BC, and spent two years adventuring through time and space with the Doctor.
It was during this incarnation that the Doctor first met the Daleks and the Cybermen, races that would become his most implacable foes. A Dalek (, ˈdɑːlεk is a member of a Fictional extraterrestrial race of Mutants from the British science fiction television The Cybermen are a Fictional race of Cyborgs who are amongst the most persistent enemies of the Doctor in the British Science fiction television The TARDIS crew also observed many historical events such as the Reign of Terror in revolutionary France, meeting Marco Polo in China and The Aztecs in Mexico. The Reign of Terror is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an Marco Polo is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in 7 weekly China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Aztecs is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in 4 weekly The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. When Susan fell in love with the human resistance fighter David Campbell, the Doctor left her behind to allow her to build a life for herself on 22nd century Earth (The Dalek Invasion of Earth), although he promised to return someday. The Dalek Invasion of Earth is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired The TARDIS crew were soon joined by Vicki, whom they rescued from the planet Dido. Vicki is a fictional character played by Maureen O'Brien in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who The Rescue is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly This is a list of planets fictional or otherwise that are mentioned in the British Science fiction Television series Doctor Who and its spinoff
At the conclusion of a chase through time, Ian and Barbara used a Dalek time machine to go home (The Chase), and their place in the TARDIS was taken by a space pilot named Steven Taylor. The Chase is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly Steven Taylor is a fictional character played by Peter Purves in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who Together, they met another member of the Doctor's race for the first time in the form of the Meddling Monk and had an adventure in Galaxy 4. The Meddling Monk, or simply the Monk, is a Fictional character in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who Galaxy 4 is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly During the siege of Troy, Vicki decided to leave the TARDIS to stay with Troilus. The Myth Makers is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four Troilus (also Troilos, Troylus) ( Ancient Greek: Τρωίλος Troïlos Latin: Troilus is a legendary character associated with the story The Doctor and Steven were next briefly joined by Katarina and Sara Kingdom, but both were killed during the events of The Daleks' Master Plan. Katarina is a fictional character played by Adrienne Hill in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who Sara Kingdom is a fictional character played by Jean Marsh in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who The Daleks' Master Plan is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who.
After narrowly missing the Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve, the Doctor and Steven took on board a young girl named Dodo Chaplet. The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was Dorothea "Dodo" Chaplet is a fictional character played by Jackie Lane in the long-running British science fiction television series Dodo brought a cold virus to the far future, which nearly annihilated the humans and Monoids travelling on The Ark. This is a list of monsters and aliens from the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. The Ark is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly One of the First Doctor's most deadly foes was the Celestial Toymaker, who forced him and his companions to play deadly games. The Celestial Toymaker is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast History of the Doctor Who companion When Doctor Who was created the dramatic structure of the programme's cast was rather different from the hero-and-sidekick Eventually, the Doctor managed to win the Trilogic Game allowing them all to escape the Toymaker's domain.
Eventually, Steven and Dodo left the Doctor as well, Steven remaining on an alien planet as a mediator (The Savages), and Dodo deciding to remain on Earth in 1966. The Savages is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. The Doctor was then joined by Polly and Ben Jackson who would be the first companions to witness a most remarkable event. Polly is a fictional character played by Anneke Wills in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Ben Jackson is a fictional character played by Michael Craze in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who
The toll of years put strain on the Doctor's elderly frame. After defeating the Cybermen at the Antarctic Snowcap Station (The Tenth Planet), the Doctor collapsed inside the TARDIS, and before the astonished eyes of his then-companions Ben and Polly, his cells renewed themselves for the first time, giving him a completely new physical appearance and character — the Second Doctor. The Cybermen are a Fictional race of Cyborgs who are amongst the most persistent enemies of the Doctor in the British Science fiction television The Tenth Planet is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in Ben Jackson is a fictional character played by Michael Craze in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who Polly is a fictional character played by Anneke Wills in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Regeneration, in the context of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, is a biological ability exhibited by the The Second Doctor is the name given to the second incarnation of the Fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running
From the beginning, the First Doctor was a mysterious figure. He appeared to be a frail old man, despite the eventual revelation that he was actually the youngest of the Doctor's incarnations, and yet was possessed of unexpected reserves of strength and will. (An early writers' guide by script editor David Whitaker describes "Doctor Who"[sic] as "frail-looking but wiry and tough as an old turkey". A bible for Writers is a reference document used for information on a story's characters settings and other elements A script editor is a member of the production team of scripted Television programmes usually dramas and comedies David Whitaker (b 1928 in Knebworth, Hertfordshire - February 4 1980) was an English screenwriter and novelist best known for Sic is a Latin word meaning "thus" "so" "as such" or "just as that" )[1] He obviously held tremendous knowledge of scientific matters, and yet was unable to pilot his TARDIS time ship reliably; his granddaughter Susan explained this by saying that her grandfather was "a bit forgetful". The TARDIS ( T ime A nd R elative D imension(s I n S pace is a time machine and Spacecraft in the He was abrasive, patronising, and cantankerous towards his human travelling companions, yet shared a deep emotional bond with his granddaughter Susan. He also harboured a streak of ruthlessness, being willing to lie — and in one case attempt to kill — to achieve his goals. Initially, he distrusted his first two human companions, Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright, who were forced on him. Ian Chesterton is a Fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and a companion Barbara Wright is a Fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and a companion of Over time, however, as they shared adventures together, he grew closer to them, and the TARDIS crew came to share almost a family bond.
Eventually, the Doctor began to enjoy his travels through time and space, taking people along for the ride and was always reluctant and sad to see them go, even when he knew it was for their own good. The Doctor's personality mellowed around the time of the serial Marco Polo, and he evolved into the more familiar grandfatherly figure that children loved. Marco Polo is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in 7 weekly Despite his age, the Doctor was never conservative, and was always a bit of an anti-establishment figure, opposing tyranny and overreaching authority in all its forms.
It was also during this time that the Doctor first met what would become his most persistent adversaries — the Daleks and the Cybermen. A Dalek (, ˈdɑːlεk is a member of a Fictional extraterrestrial race of Mutants from the British science fiction television The Cybermen are a Fictional race of Cyborgs who are amongst the most persistent enemies of the Doctor in the British Science fiction television It would be the latter encounter that would see the Doctor first regenerate; stating "This old body of mine's wearing a bit thin," he collapsed at the end of the serial, regenerating inside the TARDIS into the Second Doctor. The Second Doctor is the name given to the second incarnation of the Fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running [2]
William Hartnell described the Doctor as "a wizard", and "a cross between the Wizard of Oz and Father Christmas". The Wizard of Oz (or simply The Wizard) is a Fictional character in the Land of Oz created by American author L Father Christmas is a name used in many English speaking countries for the gift-bringing figure of Christmas. [3] One quirk of the First Doctor was his tendency to become occasionally tongue-tied and stumble over words. Sometimes this was a deliberate acting choice: William Russell recalls that it was Hartnell's idea for the Doctor to get Ian Chesterton's surname wrong, calling him "Chesserman" or "Chatterton". William Russell, Bill Russell, Billy Russell, or Willy Russell may refer to In politics George William Erskine Russell [4] This character choice also gave the series' producers the ability to use takes in which Hartnell flubbed his lines. A take is a single continuous recorded performance The term is used in film and music to denote and track the stages of production Due to the series' tight production schedule, it was rarely possible to reshoot such scenes and dubbing the dialogue was usually not an option. Hartnell suffered from undiagnosed arteriosclerosis, which affected his ability to remember lines, increasingly so as his time on the series progressed. Arteriosclerosis refers to a hardening of medium and large Arteries. [5]
In the original pilot, the Doctor wore a tie and relatively contemporary clothes. When the pilot was reshot, however, his costume changed to a more Edwardian ensemble. Class and society Socially the Edwardian era was a period during which the British Class system was very rigid
The original First Doctor episodes had individual titles (see Season 1). This is a list of Doctor Who television serials and episodes. This led to a problem as to the naming of the serials into which the episodes were grouped. See Doctor Who story title controversy for more information. Some fans of the BBC television series Doctor Who disagree about the titles of some episodes.
The programme was designed to be educational, so the stories were divided into two genres: historical (to teach about history) and futuristic (to teach about science), and in fact these two genres alternated with each other. However, by the end of the second season it became apparent that the futuristic stories were much more popular and the production team began to phase out the "historicals".
The debut of the Daleks in the second serial turned the programme from a children's series to a national phenomenon. The Daleks (also known as The Mutants) is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor It soon became a show that the whole family gathered to watch, with monsters that children viewed from between their fingers or from behind the sofa. "Behind the sofa" is a British Pop culture phrase used as a Metaphor to describe the actions that a state of fear may drive a person to &mdash Intelligent and witty scripts filled with far-out concepts compensated for the relatively low budget and unsophisticated special effects, laying the foundation for decades of stories to come.
Despite the regeneration, television audiences would see the First Doctor on screen twice more (not counting flashbacks or charity specials like Dimensions in Time). Dimensions in Time is a charity special crossover between the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who and In 1973, for the 10th anniversary of the programme, Hartnell appeared in The Three Doctors which also saw Patrick Troughton reprise his role as the Second Doctor. The Three Doctors is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, first broadcast in four weekly Patrick George Troughton (25 March 1920 – 28 March 1987 was an English Actor most widely known in his role as the second incarnation of the Due to failing health, however, Hartnell could not participate in any of the regular filming, and his scenes were shot separately at Ealing Studios (not his garden or garage at home, as long suggested by fan legend).
William Hartnell passed away soon after, in 1975. In the 20th anniversary special The Five Doctors, the role of the First Doctor was played by Richard Hurndall, although the episode began with a clip of Hartnell as the Doctor from The Dalek Invasion of Earth. The Five Doctors is a special feature-length episode of the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced Richard Gibbon Hurndall ( November 3, 1910 &ndash April 13, 1984) was an English stage radio film and television actor The Dalek Invasion of Earth is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired Where the two specials fit in the First Doctor's chronology is unclear.
In season 3 of the new series, the First Doctor is seen as a sketch in John Smith's book alongside four other Doctors in the episode "Human Nature". The Tenth Doctor is the name given to the tenth incarnation of the Fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running "Human Nature" is the eighth episode of Series 3 of the revived British Science fiction television series Doctor Who The Fifth and Tenth Doctors discuss his grumpiness in "Time Crash" as being a product of the Doctor being "young". The Fifth Doctor is the name given to the fifth incarnation of the Fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running "Time Crash" is a mini-episode of the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who.
The character has also appeared in many licensed novels, comic strips, and audio dramas.