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An Adventure In Space And Time Thurs 21st 9.00PM
An Adventure In Space And Time
Thursday 21st November 9.00PM BBC2
This special one-off drama travels back in time to 1963 to see how the beloved Doctor Who was first brought to the screen.
Actor William Hartnell felt trapped by a succession of hard-man roles. Wannabe producer Verity Lambert was frustrated by the TV industry’s glass ceiling. Both of them were to find unlikely hope and unexpected challenges in the form of a Saturday tea-time drama, time travel and monsters!
Allied with a team of brilliant people, they went on to create the longest-running science fiction series ever, now celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Written by Mark Gatiss
Executive produced by Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat and Caroline Skinner
Directed by Terry McDonough
Starring David Bradley (William Hartnell); Jessica Raine (Verity Lambert); Sacha Dhawan (Waris Hussein); Lesley Manville (Heather Hartnell) and Brian Cox (Sydney Newman).
David Bradley plays William Hartnell
Acclaimed actor David Bradley talks here about taking on the portrayal of an actor he greatly admired and transforming himself into the Doctor.
A popular screen star, well regarded by his peers, William Hartnell was born in St Pancras, London in 1908. He appeared in numerous plays, films and TV shows, often playing the ‘tough guy’ role as typified by his character in the comedy ‘The Army Game’, which ran from 1957 to 1961, just prior to Doctor Who.
When he was first approached, Hartnell was widely reported to have been unconvinced by the role of Doctor.
“It has to be said”, explains David, “after some initial reluctance to do something for children’s TV, I think he was quickly convinced that it was the right thing for him to do. He felt quite insecure about it as it was new territory for him, but once he started he embraced the whole idea of the part.”
An Adventure In Space And Time tells the story behind the beginnings of Doctor Who and the team of personalities behind it. Known as a perfectionist, Hartnell was widely regarded as cantankerous by colleagues. But as David explains the script for ‘Space And Time’ reveals a full picture of Bill, including the good and the bad.
Scott’s TARDIS
November 21st, 2013 - 10:27pmI thought this was EXTREMELY good. I genuinely felt upset near the end when they told William Hartnell that he had to go. 🙁
the 13th doctor
November 5th, 2013 - 4:25pmI’d like to watch this at the time, but my family currently lack any means of recording it, and my dad wants to watch “person of interest” which is on at the same time 🙁
MasterKasterborous
November 5th, 2013 - 7:48pmWhat about iPlayer?
the 13th doctor
November 6th, 2013 - 7:53amI don’t currently posess easy access to it unfortunately 🙁
Scott’s TARDIS
November 6th, 2013 - 8:04amBuy if you’re online, just type it in on google?
the 13th doctor
November 6th, 2013 - 4:36pmUsing my phone and it doesn’t posses the ability to use iplayer
I don’t own a computer 🙁
the 13th doctor
November 6th, 2013 - 4:37pmBut thanks for trying to help 🙂
MasterKasterborous
November 6th, 2013 - 5:14pmYou can go to your nearest Library to watch it on iPlayer there. Though you cannot stream live TV at a library you can watch old programs.
the 13th doctor
November 6th, 2013 - 6:33pmNice suggestion, thanks! 🙂
Scott’s TARDIS
November 6th, 2013 - 8:54pmGet the BBC iPlayer app?
crazy guy
November 4th, 2013 - 4:08pmhow long is this because its on a school night?
the 13th doctor
November 4th, 2013 - 4:18pmI was just talking about that (see below)
I’d rather they’d stick to showing it on the 23rd as rumoured OR earlier in the evening
UnitedGamers2013
November 4th, 2013 - 4:48pmit is on until 10:30pm
UnitedGamers2013
November 4th, 2013 - 4:50pmIt should be on primetime really
Some bloke
November 4th, 2013 - 5:12pmyeah it’s on for an hour and a half
UnitedGamers2013
November 4th, 2013 - 5:33pmprimetime means a time when everybody can watch it
Scott’s TARDIS
November 4th, 2013 - 7:27pmAnybody can watch it.
UnitedGamers2013
November 4th, 2013 - 9:22pmPeople doing gcse exams and going to school can’t stay up to 10:30 really
MasterKasterborous
November 5th, 2013 - 12:07amDepends; I was always expecting it to be on around 9. As long as you go to bed straight after, for one night I don’t think it will be too much of a problem.
the 13th doctor
November 5th, 2013 - 4:21pmUnitedGamers2013 I agree with your point; I am in the middle of my GCSE’s myself, and 10:30 is a bit late during the week for me AT THE MOMENT, so it’s also a bit of bad timing on that side too 🙁
the 13th doctor
November 5th, 2013 - 4:34pmBut I wouldn’t mind if it was on at 9pm at the weekend btw
Scott’s TARDIS
November 5th, 2013 - 10:16pmI go to school and I stay up to 10:45.
Robert Taylor
November 9th, 2013 - 9:29pmit goes on for 1 hour and 30 mins
Robert Taylo
November 9th, 2013 - 9:30pmit goes on for 1 hour and 30 mins
CrazyDoctorWhoGuy
November 9th, 2013 - 9:32pmit goes on for 1 hour and 30 mins
th 13th doctor
November 4th, 2013 - 4:00pmI’m starting to see a trend here: the science of doctor who and an adventure in space and time both at 9pm during the school week; hope this doesn’t keep up since I’m in the middle of my GCSE exams! 🙁
the 13th doctor
November 4th, 2013 - 4:02pmWhoops! My name is supposed to be the 13th doctor, stupid keyboard!
the 13th doctor
November 4th, 2013 - 4:04pmWhoops! My name is supposed to be the 13th doctor! 🙂
CrazyDoctorWhoGuy
November 9th, 2013 - 9:33pmIf you miss it you can do bbc Iplayer cos its on bbc two
CrazyDoctorWhoGuy
November 17th, 2013 - 8:56pmby the way in my opinion the science of doctor who is boring and not my style I dont really get it because it doesnt really even talk about the showits supposed to be saying the science about!!
Some bloke
November 4th, 2013 - 3:20pmYESSSS! Can’t wait for this!
Some bloke
November 4th, 2013 - 3:22pm… now that we finally know the air date and time 🙂
Anonymous
November 1st, 2013 - 8:02pmwhy does this look better than the day of the doctor
Anonymous
November 4th, 2013 - 3:53pmIt doesnt
Some bloke
November 4th, 2013 - 3:58pmit looks equally as exciting to me!
MasterKasterborous
November 5th, 2013 - 12:09amTo be honest; I am more excited for this than DOTD. That may be partially down to the fact we know very little about the latter.
DOCTOR WHO ONE
November 1st, 2013 - 9:41amNOVEMBER 2013 IS GONNA BE A TRULY AWESOME TIME TO BE ALIVE !!.
Happy 50th Anniversary very soon Doctor’s. Splendid fellows, all 11 of you [soon to be 12] !! 😀
Anonymous
November 4th, 2013 - 3:59amTechnically, there are currently 15, including the Vanguard, the Dream lord, the Watcher, and the John Hurt one (although it is unknown where in the Doctor’s timeline he is from).
the 13th doctor
November 4th, 2013 - 4:07pmI think you mean the valeyard, not the vanguard 😛
Scott’s TARDIS
November 4th, 2013 - 7:29pmTechnically, The Dream Lord and The Watcher are just alternate versions of the Eleventh and Fifth Doctors.
MasterKasterborous
November 5th, 2013 - 12:10amThe Watcher was more an imbatweenie Doctor wasn’t he?
the 13th doctor
November 5th, 2013 - 4:29pmDon’t forget the other doctors’ from the brain of Morbius (although they’re pretty much retconned now) 😉
Australia calling
October 31st, 2013 - 10:56pmHave been watching since 1963…some Doctors totally grab my attention some haven’t….but the show has always been my favourite….and I’m 63 !!
RYCBAR123
November 6th, 2013 - 9:11pmI love reading things like this because it proves that, no matter what age you are, from child to adult, everyone can love Doctor Who! Whovians are the best!
Aspire
October 31st, 2013 - 8:14pmI got my tickets booked for the 50th today!
Im SOOOOOOO happy.
DOCTOR WHO ONE
October 31st, 2013 - 7:52amDon’t know if anyone else knows this, but I’ve just learned from the newspaper website ‘The Independent’ that this documentary drama is going to be broadcast 1 week before the 50th Anniversary.
I’d rather see it the day before, not a week before.
MasterKasterborous
October 30th, 2013 - 3:26pmJust got tickets from the competition!
david nulty
October 30th, 2013 - 7:40ami saw the league of gentlemen live show and am convinced shearsmith will be an awesome troughton!
Kim
October 30th, 2013 - 6:59amWhere can i buy the posters ????
DOCTOR WHO ONE
October 30th, 2013 - 4:52pmI’d imagine they might come free with the Radio Times sooner or later.
Would make for some interesting bedroom posters 🙂
Tardis’nt
October 29th, 2013 - 5:49pmi’m really excited for this!
DOCTOR WHO ONE
October 29th, 2013 - 5:27pmCan’t wait to see this.
Shame I was not in London when they filmed the Daleks going over the bridge back in February earlier this year.
doctor who whovian fan no 1
October 29th, 2013 - 4:34pmwho is the other doctors
Some bloke
October 29th, 2013 - 5:07pmBradley is Hartnell and Reece Shearsmith will appear briefly as Troughton
MasterKasterborous
October 29th, 2013 - 6:01pmAnd Mark Gattis, I believe, plays Pertwee in the section covering The Three Doctors.
Some bloke
October 29th, 2013 - 10:24pmThat should be interesting!
the 13th doctor
November 5th, 2013 - 4:32pmHow far are they going then? I thought it was just the beginning; as in the first series or to the end of hartnel at the most
cyberman2
October 29th, 2013 - 4:21pmwhy does it look like in picture 3 he using susan as a human shield
Anonymous
November 1st, 2013 - 8:01pmtime lord shield
greyzinychimp
October 29th, 2013 - 3:36pmexciting
Neil
October 29th, 2013 - 1:55pmI thought it was always planned to go out on the actual anniversary, Nov. 23
Neil
October 29th, 2013 - 1:58pmSorry, this was meant as a reply to itdalek 🙁
Dalek The Supreme
October 29th, 2013 - 1:15pmThe poster is amazing! I do wonder though if we’ll be seeing those Dalek props in the actual show in the future?
“The Cosmologist”
October 29th, 2013 - 12:45pmI for one, am looking forward to this televised programme. Very pleased that it will be made available on DVD format the same release day of “The Day of the Doctor”. This upcoming future of Doctor Who will be absolutely smashing! 50 years of amazing adventures through space and time! It has brought me joy over the years(16 to be exact) and I have collected over 500+ Doctor Who novels, novellas and fan fictions and 20 classic series seasons and the complete new series as well. SO looking forward to the future of Doctor Who. So much AMAZING happening!
11matt
October 29th, 2013 - 11:38amso excited for this
Itdalek
October 29th, 2013 - 11:12amTrailer? Airing time?
booboo
October 29th, 2013 - 11:15amnot given yet
Neil
October 29th, 2013 - 1:57pmI thought it was always planned to go out on the actual anniversary, Nov. 23
booboo
October 29th, 2013 - 1:58pmits down for the week ending the 22nd but no date and time
Some bloke
October 29th, 2013 - 11:12amThose posters are GORGEOUS! I assume they were made by Lee Binding, who AGAIN has done a wondeful job! Do we know the release date yet? And do we know if it will be on dvd?
booboo
October 29th, 2013 - 11:15amits supposed to be on DVD with the day of the doctor, seems remarkable value to me
Some bloke
October 29th, 2013 - 11:20amBONUS!
Professor When
October 29th, 2013 - 11:11amAwesome! 😀