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July 11th, 2013 28 comments

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David Bradley IS William Hartnell – the First Doctor

David Bradley IS William Hartnell – the First Doctor

The BBC has released the first official shot of David Bradley playing William Hartnell in the First Doctor’s costume. The photograph also features the exterior of the TARDIS as it will appear in An Adventure in Space and Time, the BBC drama exploring the origins of Doctor Who.

Mark Gatiss, writer and one of the drama’s executive producers, said, ‘David Bradley brings every ounce of his talent, humour and presence to the role of William Hartnell. It’s a wonderfully touching and subtle performance and I’m immensely proud of both him and the film.’

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Doctor Who fans will remember David Bradley as the villainous Solomon in Dinosaurs on a Spaceship and Jessica Raine, who plays Verity Lambert (the show’s first producer), recently appeared in Hide. The cast also includes Brian Cox as BBC exec Sydney Newman, Sacha Dhawan as director Waris Hussein, Jamie Glover as William Russell (who played Ian), Jemma Powell as Jacqueline Hill (who played Barbara) and Claudia Grant as Carole Ann Ford (who played the Doctor’s granddaughter, Susan). Reece Shearsmith is also on board as Patrick Troughton (the Second Doctor) and Mark Eden, who appeared as Marco Polo back in 1964, returns to the world of Doctor Who playing Donald Baverstock.

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28 comments

  • daz gooch

    August 4th, 2013 - 3:52pm

    as I recall all the lost dr who episodes starred William hartnell, if the scripts are still around the bbc could remake them starring david Bradley and the rest of the 50th anniversary cast. after all the doctor only has 12 incarnations a reboot could be in the works

    Reply
    • Tim Lemmens

      August 15th, 2013 - 9:11am

      You know, I was thinking the same.

    • Joe McCraft

      August 22nd, 2013 - 5:44pm

      I have a heard rumors that they have found the remaining lost episodes (1st and 2nd doctor) and are holding the release till the 50th.

  • Derek Browell

    July 22nd, 2013 - 10:46pm

    Yes ,He looks like W.H. as I remember him…..Wonder what he sounds like ?

    Reply
  • DOUG666STINGRAY

    July 14th, 2013 - 1:35pm

    DAVID BRADLEY’S IN EVERYTHING !!!

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    July 13th, 2013 - 9:24pm

    I hope he’s in the 50th

    Reply
  • DALEK121

    July 12th, 2013 - 6:09pm

    When will this be on tv ?

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      July 13th, 2013 - 5:26am

      23rd November

    • c

      July 13th, 2013 - 10:24am

      so it’s the 50th anniversary?

    • Anonymous

      July 13th, 2013 - 1:08pm

      No It won’t be it will be around the 23rd of November before or after

    • Clayderman

      July 13th, 2013 - 3:13pm

      Most likely, it will. The 23rd of November is on a Saturday. That’s strange… 😆

  • MaxP

    July 12th, 2013 - 12:52am

    The next most obvious question everyone wants to bring up is why can’t he now play the 1st Doc in the show?
    Personally I think this anniversary year would have been the perfect time to finally properly address the question of Susan, who was she really, was she really a blood relative and a Time Lord or what? And what did happen to her after she left the Doc. She could maybe have been revealed to be alive still and thus ensure the future of the Time Lord race. Would have been nice. Oh well.

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      July 13th, 2013 - 9:22pm

      Well is he going to be in the 50th or not?

  • Anonymous

    July 11th, 2013 - 9:20pm

    He looks nothing like hartnel

    Im just kidding he’s spot on 🙂

    Reply
    • Joe McCraft

      August 22nd, 2013 - 5:45pm

      Well yeah, Hartnel is dead…

  • Silence Will Still Fall

    July 11th, 2013 - 9:19pm

    The likeness is incredible.Really looking forward to watching this when it airs later in the year.

    Reply
  • ROCKSTAR

    July 11th, 2013 - 8:29pm

    He looks nearly the same as Hartnell

    Reply
  • RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND

    July 11th, 2013 - 7:14pm

    blast from the past

    Reply
  • Dalek: the Supreme

    July 11th, 2013 - 5:33pm

    One day, he will come back, yes he will come back…And now he is! William Hartnell lives again!

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    July 11th, 2013 - 3:24pm

    apparently the 12th doctor is suppose to be annonced in the next feiw day acorrding to moffat

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      July 11th, 2013 - 3:38pm

      No he meant he will reveal it a few days following the actor being cast

  • doctorsmith12

    July 11th, 2013 - 2:35pm

    he really looks like hartnell

    Reply
  • Doctor Who DVD Collector

    July 11th, 2013 - 8:59am

    I think he looks brilliant!

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    July 11th, 2013 - 8:48am

    When will they relese a trailer for this?

    Reply
    • DOCTOR WHO ONE

      July 11th, 2013 - 8:57am

      November, maybe late October if they decide to treat us to a little early preview 😉

    • Anonymous

      July 11th, 2013 - 3:28pm

      actually this month at comic con .paris has already seen one

  • Matt Smithy

    July 11th, 2013 - 7:29am

    Wow…he does look REALLY good like that! This “doc”umentary (get it? no? fine…) better be good now!

    Reply
    • doc fan

      July 11th, 2013 - 8:16am

      yeah

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