Doctor Who – 49 Years – The Countdown Begins | Last updated: November 23rd, 2012
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Doctor Who – 49 Years – The Countdown Begins
From The BBC Archives
23rd November 1963
5.15
DR. WHO
An adventure In space and time.
with
WILLIAM HARTNELL as Dr. Who
WILLIAM RUSSELL as Ian Chesterton
JAQUELINE HILL as Rarhara Wright and
CAROLE ANN FORD as Susan Foreman
An Unearthly Child
by Anthony Coburn
Title music by Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Incidental music by NORMAN KAY
Story editor. David Whitaker
Designer, Peter Brachacki
Associate producer, Mervyn Pinfleld
Producer, Verity Lambert
Directed by Waris Hussein
DR. WHO? That is just the point. Nobody knows precisely who he is, this mysterious exile from another world and a distant future whose adventures begin today. But this much is known: he has a ship in which he can travel through space and time – although, owing to a defect in its instruments he can never be sure where and when his ‘landings’ may take place. And he has a grand-daughter Susan, a strange amalgam of teenage normality and uncanny intelligence.
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52 Responses to :
Doctor Who – 49 Years – The Countdown Begins
Posted by: Baba January 4th, 2013
Yay I can’t wait
Posted by: doctorwhoone December 2nd, 2012
Seeing as Doctor Who is 50 next year, it seems like the ideal year for the BBC to create a brand new TV channel completely 100% devoted to NOTHING but DOCTOR WHO !!!!!!!!!!!
No other TV series is the world has a channel devoted to it, so Doctor Who can therefore have the honour of being the first.
It could repeat classic and new stories, talk about fandom, review the latest merchandise, upcoming events etc.
I did ask the BBC about it on their YouTube channel along time ago but they just ignore comments [typical !!].
Not sure what the channel would be called thou if it existed so I’m up for suggestions like maybe -
DWTV – The Official Doctor Who TV Channel
Posted by: asa November 27th, 2012
Man, I can’t wait for this anniversary to come out next year!! I know it’ll be a good one. C:
Hope this one will be great for everyone!! 
Happy 50th anniversary Doctor Who!! Whoo! And every doctor is just as good as another in many ways.
Posted by: Whovian November 25th, 2012
BRING ON THE BIG 5 0!!!!!!!!!! I’ve been a fan ever since the first reboot episode. I can’t wait for the anniversary!
Posted by: Anonymous November 25th, 2012
Happy Birthday Doctor Who! I can’t believe its nearly 50 years, I’m Excited for Next Year! In 2005 when I was about 4 or 5 my first Episode was World War 3, I know I missed 4 Episodes of the First New Series but then I got addicted to it. So now I’m an official Doctor Who Fan! COME ON 50TH WE ARE WAITING!!!
Posted by: The Supreme Dalek November 25th, 2012
Happy Birthday Doctor Who! Next year is going to be great! From the start of 2013, I shall be watching episodes every day for the celebration!
I’m 12 and I remembered watching it for the first time. ‘Rose’ was actually my first one when I was 5 or 6. My parents had watched the classics so they let me watch it. I enjoyed it so much, then I watched the next episode, and the next, and that was me! Come on 50th!!
Posted by: I-Luvv-Matt-Smith.xxx November 25th, 2012
Same, Rose was the first episode I ever watched
I loved Rose, think she is one of my fav companions
Posted by: georgia-doctor November 26th, 2012
same! The first thing i saw was the doctor’s hand around rose’s in the shop where she worked and he said “run”. best moment in my life. CAN’T WAIT FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY!!!!
Posted by: John Smith November 25th, 2012
Been a fan since I was about 4 years old when they were doing classic series re-runs on the ABC. Genesis of the Daleks was my first ever episode and the Daleks terrified me while the 4th Doctor made me laugh. What better way to enter the world of Doctor Who? Since then I’ve watched every episode to be brought out on DVD from the classic series and even some on old video tapes. Not to forget the series’ return to our screens in 2005 which left me breathless.
Here’s to another 50 years! GERONIMO!
Posted by: Fish Fingers ‘n Custard November 24th, 2012
I’m only 12 but I started watching Doctor Who from a young age, and I was hooked. My parents watched Doctor Who when they were younger so I was able to watch the older episodes. I got the magazines and I basically loved it. I still do obviously and I’ll definitely be celebrating this! Happy Birthday Who!
Posted by: I-Luvv-Matt-Smith.xxx November 24th, 2012
I have not been a fan for long because I am 12 but since Cristopher Eccleston’s first appearance I have loved Doctor Who since, and I have loved the Daleks, so I will be celebrating 50th Anniversary! I wish I had seen the original Doctor Who episodes, were they as good as Angles take Manhattan?
Posted by: doctorwhoone November 25th, 2012
It’s ‘Angels’ not ‘Angles’, and yes, the original series of Doctor Who has stories that are just as good as ‘The Angels take Manhatten’.
If you’ve not yet seen any classic Doctor Who, I’d recommend the following -
An Unearthly Child [but ignore the Caveman stuff]
The Invasion [1968 Cyberman story]
The Green Death
Genesis of the Daleks
The Five Doctors
Revelation of the Daleks
Attack of the Cybermen
Doctor Who – The Movie
Posted by: John Smith November 25th, 2012
No Sylvester McCoy episodes?
Posted by: Those Snowmen over there November 25th, 2012
Remembrance of the Daleks!
You can’t forget Remembrance! 
Posted by: doctorwhoone November 25th, 2012
Oops, sorry, I thought ‘Attack of the Cybermen’ was a McCoy story, I ment ‘Silver Nemesis’ when it comes to his Doctor.
‘Remembrance of the Daleks’ thou, yes I agree that is recommended too
Posted by: I-Luvv-Matt-Smith.xxx November 25th, 2012
Ok sos i meant angels
Okay thanks for the help x
Posted by: McGann is the Doctor. November 24th, 2012
I first became a fan shortly before Planet of the Dead aired.
I bought my dad the Genesis of the Daleks DVD for his birthday, and got into it since then.
Remember the main thing I was interested in was getting loads of Daleks and Cybermen.
Now, I’ve become such a better fan, on so many levels, and I have learned alot from the show, it’s making, and it’s hero.
My favourite Doctor is Colin Baker, when I saw his performance I liked him instantly.
Here’s to many more years of Big Finish stories, novelisations with great covers, 5″ action figures, high quality DVDs with educational features, great Doctors with fantasticly strange outfits and overall, may we be better for having watched the show
Posted by: Hector Sandler November 24th, 2012
Well it great . My comment to say I always will love Dr.Who. Now & Forever. I grew up with Jon Pertwee & Tom Baker. But William Hartnell & Patrick Troughton were great. I do like the current Doctors & his predecessors who portrayed the role since 2005.
Posted by: Dalek Strategist November 24th, 2012
Happy 49th! From William’s grandfatherly wisdom, to Smith’s alien quirkiness, to Sylvester’s mysterious aura, even to David’s angst, the Doctor is the greatest fictional character of all time, and the Daleks are the greatest antagonists ever created!
Posted by: Those Snowmen over there November 23rd, 2012
Happy birthday Doctor Who! Looking forward to the 50th next year! GERONIMO!
Posted by: BOOBOO JR November 23rd, 2012
Happy Birthday Doctor Who! Only one year and we’ll be celebrating the 50th; I cannot wait!!!
Posted by: Zak November 23rd, 2012
Happy Birthday Doctor Who!
49 years of travelling through time and space in a police box! Undoubtedly one of the most successful shows of all time.
Posted by: Dalek Jake November 23rd, 2012
Happy 49th Doctor Who!
Posted by: RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND November 23rd, 2012
Happy 49th Birthday Doctor Who!
Posted by: Anonymous November 23rd, 2012
Why does the countdown say it’s 6 years untill the 50th anniversary??? It’s next year!
Posted by: Some bloke November 23rd, 2012
It doesnt, it says its 365 days, 23 hours, 55 mins and counting
Posted by: booboo November 23rd, 2012
its whatever your computer in set to
Posted by: Anonymous November 23rd, 2012
OH JUST REALISED MY IPOD THINKS ITS 2006! WHICH ISNT THAT BAD AS IT USED TO THINK IT WAS 1970
Posted by: Dalek Strategist November 24th, 2012
If it was 1970, the Doctor would be exiled to Earth, in his 3rd incarnation, and working for UNIT
Posted by: charliec3po November 23rd, 2012
happy birthday doctor who !!!!!!!
Posted by: Mr Zarbi November 23rd, 2012
Happy Birthday Who! Watching An Unearthly Child at 5:15 like the original
Posted by: Mr Evil Fez November 23rd, 2012
5:16
Posted by: doctorwhoone November 23rd, 2012
Mr Evil Fez – No, it was 5:15pm.
Posted by: booboo November 23rd, 2012
5.16.20 to be precise
Posted by: Tardis’nt November 23rd, 2012
Happy birthday to who, happy birthday to who…
Posted by: Twelth Cyber Legion November 23rd, 2012
I know i,ve been saying that all day.
Posted by: crazy guy November 23rd, 2012
happy birhtday doctor who. today as it is friday i am gonna watch a few of my favrioute episodes.
also can someone awnser my question as if susan is
the doctors granddaughter who would be the doctors son or daughter and also is susan a timelord too.
Posted by: doctorwhoone November 23rd, 2012
Susan is the Doctors granddaughter, and she is a Time Lord, or Time Lady as female Gallifrayans where normally called.
She has a son called Alex who was born after the original Dalek Invasion of Earth in an 8th Doctor audio called ‘An Earthly Child’ who is part Time Lord, Part human, and voiced by 8th Doctor Paul McGann’s real life son.
The only member of the Doctor’s family seen on screen since Susan is Jenny from the series 4 episode ‘The Doctors Daughter’, and is it believed his own mother is featured in ‘The End of Time’, normally seen with Wilfred Mott.
Posted by: crazy guy November 23rd, 2012
oh thanks for clearing that up i was quite confused as she is a timelord i guess she can also regenerate
Posted by: doctorwhoone November 23rd, 2012
Your welcome
Susan left a year later in 1964′s ‘The Dalek Invasion of Earth’, 2 years before regeneration was first introduced in 1966′s ‘The Tenth Planet’, but she clearly did have the power to regenerate, just never shown, and since we don’t know of her exact fate wither she was with her grandfather during the Time War in his 8th incarnation, it’s unknown if she died or maybe still on earth in the 22nd Century, and the Doctor just claims to be the last Time Lord just to keep his granddaughter safe, but no one knows for sure.
Posted by: crazy guy November 24th, 2012
oh thanks for clearing everything up now it all makes sense. thank you
Posted by: CG November 23rd, 2012
Happy Birthday Doctor Who????
Posted by: daleksean November 23rd, 2012
happy 49 years doctor who
Posted by: McGann is the Doctor November 23rd, 2012
The anniversary always creeps up unnoticed till the night before, but next year, make no mistake about it, we will see it coming.
Next year is the GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY people !
Posted by: matt smithy November 23rd, 2012
happy 49th doctor who! Can’t wait till next year!
Posted by: Ryan November 23rd, 2012
Happy 49th Doctor! I’m celebrating, at 5:15 today, I’ll be happily watching An Unearthly Child, and I am doing a marathon, of watching an episode/part a day, which reconstructions of the missing eps until the 50th! Happy birthday to Who!
Posted by: doctorwhoone November 23rd, 2012
HALF A CENTURY OF DOCTOR WHO NEXT YEAR IN 2013 – BRING ON THE GOLDEN JUBILEE !!!!.
For today thou, I’m just going to watch ‘An Unearthly Child’ and the most recent episode, ‘The Angels take Manhatten’.
HAPPY 49TH BIRTHDAY DOCTOR WHOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!
Posted by: Adam November 23rd, 2012
Happy 49th Birthday Doctor Who
Im Celebrating
Posted by: The TARDIS November 23rd, 2012
Happy 49th Doctor Who! One year ’till the big one… And a great count-down booboo!
Posted by: Mr Evil Fez November 23rd, 2012
Happy Birthday Doctor Who!
Posted by: Doctor Who? November 23rd, 2012
Happy 49th Anniversary Doctor WHO! 1 more year to go until Doctor Who goes 50!
Posted by: Harold Saxon November 23rd, 2012
Happy 49th Anniversary Doctor!