DOCTOR WHO’S FIRST DOCTOR
REGENERATED IN BBC AMERICA’S
AN ADVENTURE IN SPACE AND
TIME PREMIERING NOVEMBER 22
The story of how it all began
stars David Bradley, Jessica Raine and Brian Cox
What do
you get when you mix C.S. Lewis with H.G. Wells, and sprinkle in a bit of Father
Christmas? An alien Time Lord exploring space and time in a Police Box spaceship
called the “TARDIS” (Time And Relative Dimension in Space). On November 23,
1963, a television legend began when the very first episode of Doctor Who
was broadcast on BBC One. Fifty years later, the genesis story is retold in a
new BBC AMERICA co-production film celebrating the 50th anniversary
of the franchise, An Adventure in Space and Time,
premiering Friday, November 22,
9:00pm ET/PT on BBC AMERICA.
Travel
back to witness the genius that was the first Doctor, William Hartnell (David
Bradley, Game of Thrones, Broadchurch) and the unlikely
production team behind the series, Verity Lambert (Jessica Raine, Call
the Midwife), Waris Hussein (Sacha Dhawan, After Earth) and
Sydney Newman (Brian Cox, The Bourne Identity, X2: X-Men
United). From writer and executive producer Mark Gatiss
(Sherlock, Doctor Who), executive producers Steven Moffat (Doctor Who,
Sherlock) and Caroline Skinner (Doctor Who, The
Fades) and director Terry McDonough (Breaking Bad, The
Street), the
stylish drama reveals the struggles and ultimate triumph of the British series
created to “keep the sports fans and kids hooked.”
“An Adventure in Space and Time is principally a human
interest story you can enjoy even if you know nothing about Doctor Who,”
says writer and executive producer, Mark Gatiss. “You’ll see the story of some
amazing people who come together under extraordinary circumstances to create
this wonderful thing that is still with us today.”
An
unlikely trio of misfits set out to create a genre series that all ages would
love. A 55-year-old actor conceivably at the end of a frustrating career, a
former production assistant fighting to make her mark in television, and a
foreign born, novice director were tasked with bringing a vision for an exciting
new science fiction story to life. William 'Bill' Hartnell, displeased with his
career, was presented with a chance to break out of the hard-man roles he’d
become known for. And with the instincts of first time producer, Verity Lambert
and first time director, Waris Hussein, The Doctor was born. As the success of
the show grew, William went from unhappy curmudgeon to beloved television star
who relished his career resurgence and found a new lease on life. But all good
things come to an end. How will Bill face leaving behind the part that has made
him a hero to millions of children? And can the show survive without him?
Journey back fifty years through space and time to witness the exciting
beginning and untimely end of the First Doctor in this touching drama.
THE DOCTOR – “We can’t have
Doctor Who without Doctor Who, can we?” – William Hartnell
William Hartnell
(David
Bradley)
Aged 55,
William Hartnell was already a well established character actor primarily known
for playing gruff, military parts. Unhappy with being typecast, Hartnell was
approached about playing the lead in a new children’s drama. Initially
reluctant, he accepted the role which would change his life and make him a
beloved household name. Serving the series from 1963-1966, Hartnell’s Doctor
was a doting yet difficult father figure and fierce opponent. But behind the
character, Hartnell, committed to his role, saw his world changing rapidly and
his health taking a turn for the worse. As those he’d come to rely on moved
onward and upward, he was left alone to carry the show they’d built together on
his shoulders. A feat that ultimately proved too difficult for him to
complete.
Mark Gatiss on David Bradley: “I’d had David
Bradley in mind for the part of William Hartnell for some time and I probably
asked him before I should have!” says Gatiss. “I was watching the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee regatta from the National Theatre, and asked David then and
there and he responded ‘I’ve just done one!’ [David Bradley had appeared as
Solomon the trader in Doctor Who’s “Dinosaurs on a Spaceship”]. I
explained that this was a chance to play William Hartnell in a very different
story and he was thrilled. He’s absolutely magnificent in the film. He plays
Bill Hartnell’s journey from a grumpy old man to a pied piper figure with
touching brilliance.”
THE
PRODUCER – “If feathers don’t ruffle, nothing flies…” – Verity
Lambert
Verity
Lambert (Jessica Raine)
Newman needed a producer
for his new show and was determined that, having worked with her before, Verity
Lambert was the right woman for the job. At the time, there were no female
executives at the BBC so this appointment was groundbreaking. He described her
as “bright, gutsy and full of piss and vinegar.” Lambert enjoyed great success
producing Doctor Who until 1965 and was later behind huge hits including The
Naked Civil Servant, A Cry in the Dark and Jonathan Creek. She
was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for her services to film and
television production in 2002 and passed away in 2007. The Doctor Who
Christmas special from that year “Voyage of the Damned” is dedicated to her
memory.
THE
DIRECTOR – “It’ll never work…when do we start? – Waris
Hussein
Waris
Hussein (Sacha
Dhawan)
British-Indian television
director, Waris Hussein, was a surprise choice to direct the very first episode
of Doctor Who. At 24, he was young and relatively new to the BBC, having
joined only three years previously as a trainee. He returned to the series to
direct the seven part 1964 adventure “Marco Polo,” the entirety of which is
currently missing.
THE
EXECTIVE – “No bug-eyed monsters!”
– Sydney
Newman
Sydney
Newman (Brian
Cox)
As Head of Drama for the BBC, and
a life-long science fiction fan, Canadian film and television producer, Sydney
Newman, was responsible for the idea and the development of this new sci-fi
series. With successful credits including The Avengers and The
Forsyte Saga, Newman wanted to find a producer who had “piss and vinegar
in their veins.” Making history with his vision, Newman brought on BBC’s first
female producer to bring his creation to life.
The
Daleks
–
the mangled and
mutated remains of the Kaled people, placed in metal war
machines
by the Kaled’s
chief scientist, first appeared in the series in 1963, earning the show 10
million viewers.
“So what do I
know about anything...” – Sydney
Newman
Mark
Gatiss on the film's importance: “This is a story
that I’ve always wanted to tell. In fact I pitched it for the
40thanniversary ten years ago and now it’s finally happening! I
wanted to write it because I grew up with Doctor Who and even though Jon
Pertwee was my Doctor, the legend of how the show began has always been there
for me, in my blood. From how the show started small, then along came the
Daleks, and ultimately, how the part changed William Hartnell’s life – this is a
story that had to be told.”
William
Russell (Jamie
Glover)
William
Russell was cast as school teacher, Ian Chesterton, in the very first story of
Doctor Who and continued to play the role until the 1965 adventure “The
Chase.” Since then he has performed in numerous theatre and television
productions and has been an avid supporter of Doctor Who, lending his
voice to numerous audiobooks and commentaries. He also appears in An
Adventure in Space and Time.
Jacqueline Hill
(Jemma
Powell)
An established stage actress,
Jacqueline Hill, played the role of history teacher Barbara Wright and became
one of the first people to travel through space and time in the TARDIS. Hill’s
character left in the same episode as William Russell’s Ian Chesterton. Shortly
afterwards she gave up acting to raise a family but returned to the series in
1980 to play high priestess Lexa in “Meglos” alongside Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker.
Hill passed away in 1993.
Carole
Ann Ford (Claudia
Grant)
Young
actress Carole Ann Ford won the role of the Doctor’s granddaughter, Susan
Foreman after an initial appearance in Z-Cars. She played the character until
1964 when she became the first companion to leave the TARDIS when Susan stayed
on a future Earth to rebuild it after a Dalek invasion. Ford stayed in acting
until 1997 and reprised her role as Susan for the 1983 episode “The Five
Doctors.” She also appears in An Adventure in Space and
Time.
CAST
AND PRODUCTION CREDITS:
William
Hartnell David Bradley
Sydney
Newman Brian Cox
Verity
Lambert Jessica Raine
Waris
Hussein Sacha Dhawan
William
Russell Jamie Glover
Jacqueline
Hill Jemma Powell
Carole Ann
Ford Claudia Grant
Heather
Hartnell Lesley Manville
Judith
Cara Jenkins
Delia
Derbyshire Sarah Winter
Meryvn
Pinfield Jeff Rawle
Rex Tucker
Andrew Woodall
Richard
Martin Ian Hallard
Peter
Brachacki David Annen
Douglas
Camfield Sam Hoare
Donald
Baverstock Mark Eden
Patrick
Troughton Reece Shearsmith
Peter
Hawkins Nicholas Briggs
Written
by Mark Gatiss
Executive
Producers Mark Gatiss
Steven
Moffat Caroline Skinner
Director
Terry McDonough
An
Adventure in Space and Time is a co-production between
BBC
Cymru Wales and BBC AMERICA.
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