January 30th, 2013
44 comments
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David Bradley to play William Hartnell
David Bradley to play William Hartnell in Celebration of Doctor Who
As part of the BBC’s blockbuster celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, David Bradley (Harry Potter) is set to play the first ever Doctor, the iconic William Hartnell in the BBC Two drama ‘An Adventure in Space and Time’.
‘An Adventure in Space and Time’ will tell the story of the genesis of Doctor Who – first aired on 23 November 1963 – and the many personalities involved. The BBC’s Head of Drama Sydney Newman, credited with the creation of the show, will be portrayed by Brian Cox (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Identity) and the producer, Verity Lambert, by ‘Call the Midwife’ star Jessica Raine. The director of the first ever episode, ‘An Unearthly Child’, Waris Hussein, will be played by Sacha Dhawan (History Boys, Last Tango In Halifax).
Commenting on his upcoming role, David Bradley, said:
“I’m absolutely thrilled. I first heard about this role from Mark [Gatiss] while watching the Diamond Jubilee flotilla from the roof of the National Theatre. When he asked if I would be interested, I almost bit his hand off! Mark has written such a wonderful script not only about the birth of a cultural phenomenon, but a moment in television’s history. William Hartnell was one of the finest character actors of our time and as a fan I want to make sure that I do him justice. I’m so looking forward to getting started.”
The one-off 90-minute BBC Cymru Wales produced drama is written by Mark Gatiss who will also act as executive producer alongside Steven Moffat and Caroline Skinner.
Mark Gatiss, executive producer and writer, said:
“What a cast! I’m utterly delighted that everyone’s favourite Time Lord will be in such brilliant and stellar company. We have a terrific team who can’t wait to tell the fascinating and surprising story of how the Doctor began his journey through Space and Time.”
Filming begins at the beginning of February at Television Centre before moving to Wimbledon Studios. It is produced by Matt Strevens (Misfits, Skins) and directed by Terry McDonough (Breaking Bad, The Street).
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DOCTOR WHO ONE
January 31st, 2013 - 10:25amNot yet, but over the coming months before the BIG day on Saturday 23rd November 2013, we will know eventually know who are going to be playing them.
DOCTOR WHO ONE
January 31st, 2013 - 10:23amWilliam Hartnell actually died on the 23rd April 1975.
Richard Hurndall played William’s Doctor in 1983’s 20th Anniversary story ‘The Five Doctors’.
crazyguy
January 31st, 2013 - 8:12amoh cool as i loved the morecambe and wise one all though they are the best comedians ever but i really looking forward to this anyway gtg i am going on holiday to Florida in an hour bye
Hector Sandler
January 31st, 2013 - 7:18amWell that great. Remember another actor had to play first doctor because William Hartnell pass away in 1976. I couldn’t remember that actor name. It will great. I wish same thing his 2 other successors.
DalekTheSupreme
January 31st, 2013 - 2:58amThis guy looks so much like William Hartnell when I first saw the picture I thought “So THAT’S what Hartnell looks like without his wig!” Just a testament to how stupid I am 😀
pathdw98
January 31st, 2013 - 2:24amdoes anyone know when we will find out who will play william russell(ian), jacquline hill(barbara) and carole ann ford(susan)? because that looks a fantastic cast so far.
KORSAIR
January 31st, 2013 - 12:27amSorry Booboo it is that Brian Cox.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Cox_(actor)
booboo
January 30th, 2013 - 8:23pmthat’s it exactly, it should be brilliant viewing
Mr Evil Fez
January 30th, 2013 - 8:13pmDavid looks exactly like William Hartnell!
DOCTOR WHO ONE
January 30th, 2013 - 6:32pmYeah, the same thing happened with Coronation Street about 2 or 3 years back.
crazy guy
January 30th, 2013 - 6:04pmhey at first i just thought this was a documentary but now is it some sort of film like the morecambe and wise film telling how they became comedians
DOCTOR WHO ONE
January 30th, 2013 - 3:15pmI think we will see him both as William Hartnell and as William Hartnell in character as the Doctor filming ‘An Unearthly Child’.
Some bloke
January 30th, 2013 - 3:04pmi agree with booboo, i’m really excited to see it, should be a great piece of tele-visual history
RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND
January 30th, 2013 - 2:57pmnot a bad choice
pathdw98
January 30th, 2013 - 2:45pmNow that david bradley is playing william hartnell in this special,I wonder if he’ll play the first doctor in the actual anniversary episode? what do others think?
booboo
January 30th, 2013 - 1:16pmdepends on how far they go, i would like to see the story behind their design and eventual appearance included in this
Anonymous
January 30th, 2013 - 1:14pmI hope the daleks feture in this
Some bloke
January 30th, 2013 - 1:06pmI reckon once in make up and costume, he’ll look just like hartnell, (assuming they will at least recreate behind the scenes filming from unearthly child)
drjakeyoung
January 30th, 2013 - 12:40pmcool
Doctor who what when where why
January 30th, 2013 - 12:22pmBoth of the brian cox have been on doctor who brian cox -elder ood in the end of time and the other one playing himself in the power of three
DOCTOR WHO ONE
January 30th, 2013 - 10:02amOh it’s not ? . . . . . THANK GOD FOR THAT 😀
booboo
January 30th, 2013 - 9:28amits not that Brain Cox
McGann is the Doctor
January 30th, 2013 - 9:26amI think they are referring to Brian Cox the actor who was in X-men 2 as William Stryker, and Red Eye as the girl’s dad who pops a cap in Cillian Murphy.
Plus I once hired a cab-driver who looks like him.
DOCTOR WHO ONE
January 30th, 2013 - 8:53amOh no, not Brian Cox, me and my dad find that guy so utterly irritating when he talks about the Universe while he appears to be grinning like a lunatic, and he don’t even look anything like Sydney Newman.
Jessica Raine I’m not familiar with, but I recognized her when I looked up pictures of her on Google. She don’t look like Verity Lambert in my opinion, infact as soon as pictures from Google started to turn up I thought she look a bit like David Tennant’s wife Georgia Tenant [Georgia Moffat].
Don’t know who Sacha Dhawan is either, but looking up pictures of him on Google also, I think he does look a little like Waris Hussain.
booboo
January 30th, 2013 - 8:28amI’m almost looking forward to this more than the special,especially if they recreate the Tardis etc
Anonymous
January 30th, 2013 - 8:25amI knew that one day he’ll come back yes he would come back. This is great he evan looks like bill. I can not wait. Sadly the real aniversery story is only 60 minutes
John Smith
January 30th, 2013 - 8:25amI’m surprised that I didn’t realize that he looks like William Hartnell! But that is a very good choice. Looking forward to it!
dan
January 30th, 2013 - 8:15amGreat news. 90mins long too yet the actual special for the 50th is only 60mins long. Shame. Good to see Gatiss in producer role, ready to take over from Steven Moffet me thinks?
DOCTOR WHO ONE
January 30th, 2013 - 8:15amOhhhhhh, the crazy old man from Simon ‘The Editor from Doctor Who – Series 1’ Pegg’s fantastic movie ‘Hot Fuzz’ . . . . NICE ONE !!!! 😀
Jamie Bate
January 30th, 2013 - 7:34amThis is fantastic news, I should imagine he can carry the role off very well, not to mention he bearing quite a resemblance to Hartnell.