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August 9th, 2012 63 comments

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Mark Gatiss to Write 50th Doctor Who Drama

Mark Gatiss to Write Doctor Who Drama

From his twitter page

“One day, I shall come back”. Thrilled to announce I’m writing a long-cherished drama about the creation of ‘Doctor Who’!

New BBC Two drama to mark 50th anniversary of Doctor Who

The BBC today announces that a special BBC TWO drama has been commissioned to mark the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who next year.

An Adventure In Space And Time will tell the story of the genesis of Doctor Who since its first broadcast on 23 November 1963. Exploring all aspects of the longest running science fiction series to date, the special one-off 90-minute drama will also look at the many personalities involved in bringing the series to life.

Written by Mark Gatiss, it is executive produced by current Doctor Who showrunner, Steven Moffat, and Caroline Skinner. The single drama was commissioned by Ben Stephenson Controller, Drama, and Janice Hadlow, Controller of BBC Two.

Mark Gatiss said: “This is the story of how an unlikely set of brilliant people created a true television original. And how an actor – William Hartnell – stereotyped in hard-man roles became a hero to millions of children. I’ve wanted to tell this story for more years than I can remember! To make it happen for Doctor Who’s 50th birthday is quite simply a dream come true.”

Steven Moffat, Executive Producer, said: “The story of Doctor Who is the story of television – so it’s fitting in the anniversary year that we make our most important journey back in time to see how the TARDIS was launched.”

The production and transmission schedule will be confirmed next year, along with casting


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63 comments

  • the doctor

    August 14th, 2012 - 1:40pm

    It might not be true but david tennant might be playing the doctor in the 50th anniversary movie.

    Reply
    • booboo

      August 14th, 2012 - 1:41pm

      they wont want to take the limelight away form the currant Doctor – it should be focused on all of them if anything

    • Jason doctorwhoone

      August 14th, 2012 - 4:38pm

      What 50th anniversary movie ? there aint gonna be one.

      Steven Moffat, if I remember rightly, recently denied any such rumours of a new Doctor Who film, and that all that stuff about that guy who used to make Harry Potter films was just a lie.

    • the astronaut of death

      August 14th, 2012 - 9:01pm

      well there might be a doctor who 50th annerversery tv mvie

    • chloe

      August 5th, 2013 - 9:23am

      Why don’t they do a titanic series like the doctor goes on the titanic 🙂

  • Doctor Who Fan 200

    August 13th, 2012 - 10:48pm

    FIRST COMMENT SINCE JANUARY!!!!!!

    Sound’s good.

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      August 14th, 2012 - 10:31am

      I heard that the monster for the xmas special(for once a real monster that does not turn good at the last minute like most xmas specials) it is a killer snowman. Don’t beleve me then check out some spoilers

    • Doctor Who DVD Collector

      August 14th, 2012 - 12:02pm

      THE YETI???

    • Jason doctorwhoone

      August 14th, 2012 - 12:06pm

      First comment since January ? . . . . WHAT ????.

  • Dalek Jake

    August 13th, 2012 - 5:51pm

    Looking forward to this oh and the update on the Daleks fact file is great.

    Reply
  • Renegade Dalek

    August 13th, 2012 - 1:11pm

    probably need to record this. better be good!

    Reply
  • John Smith

    August 12th, 2012 - 11:30am

    Whoever said that Christopher Eccleston won’t return has some good points but let me put it to you this way guys and girls. Recently he was interviewed, I don’t know where or when so don’t ask me but apparently he said that he had much more that he wanted to do with the character of the ninth Doctor. I think someone should show Christopher the 5 Doctor’s and explain to him that it would of been a better story if Tom Baker was in it. Like the 50th anniversary will be better if he’s in it! Tom Baker kind of regrets not doing the 5 Doctors nowdays. I wonder if when Christopher is 60 something that he might regret not being in the 50th anniversary episode?

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      August 12th, 2012 - 8:08pm

      At the time he did, but he was very annoyed at those people. He has no intention of going back and he doesn’t regret his decision in any way.

    • The Robot Of Death

      August 13th, 2012 - 9:21am

      Just read your comment John Smith and I agree because he’s so going to regret not being in the 50th anniversary.

  • The supreme

    August 12th, 2012 - 7:42am

    Matt smith said that series 8 will be emotinol
    😥

    Reply
    • Jason doctorwhoone

      August 12th, 2012 - 10:00am

      Don’t ya mean series 7 ?.

    • dr who

      August 12th, 2012 - 12:58pm

      it is most likely because he will regenrate.i know it will be sad

    • the astronaut of death

      August 13th, 2012 - 5:23pm

      welll matt smith is going to be staying to at lest to 2014

  • Skaroman

    August 11th, 2012 - 9:50pm

    If anyone has seen the five doctors episode, who thinks that Richard Hurndall and William Hartnell look alike? Because I think they like a lot different too each other. Thus I stand to my point that getting different actors to play original characters will be quite preposterous. Who’s with me?

    Reply
    • Nigel M

      August 12th, 2012 - 3:07pm

      I agree. If it’s just one or two characters then OK, but if they start doing 50 years worth of key people then many viewers will probably be scratching their heads and asking “Who’s that supposed to be ?”.

    • Jason doctorwhoone

      August 13th, 2012 - 8:40am

      Yeah, William and Richard played very different versions of the same 1st Doctor.

      Richards version didn’t seem to do all that ‘Hmmm’ thing that William did, and since when did the 1st Doctor wear fingerless gloves ????.

  • dalekmaster17

    August 11th, 2012 - 7:25pm

    on youtube someone has uploaded The Story of Doctor Who (Documentary) which was made for the 40th anniversary and has people like tom baker talking about the show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S04i65FqEmU&feature=related

    Reply
    • Jason doctorwhoone

      August 12th, 2012 - 8:56am

      Oh I remember that, thanks for the link, I’m going to watch it 😀

  • Jason doctorwhoone

    August 10th, 2012 - 7:21am

    This is brilliant. Not sure who could play William Hartnell, William Russell and Carol Ann Ford, but Jaquelin Hill should definitely be played by Keeley Hawes [Ashes to Ashes].

    The Sun newspaper today posted a story saying that David Tennant might be reprising his role as the 10th Doctor for the 50th anniversary, but don’t get your hopes up, he might not, but if he does then he’ll make a lot of bleeden fan girls who keep saying “BRING BACK DAVID TENNANT !!!!” driving the rest of us nuts will be very happy if he does return. It also mentioned Christopher Eccleston, but he wont ever return, his made it perfectly clear he wont return . . . . the old misery.

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      August 10th, 2012 - 11:26am

      Nothing to do with being a misery, there were some rather arrogant producers and directors that really wound him up. His conciounce wouldn’t let him do it while he knew certain people were bullying certain members of the production team.

    • booboo

      August 10th, 2012 - 11:29am

      i was getting the impression from some recent interviews that all might not be lost

    • Anonymous

      August 10th, 2012 - 1:33pm

      It seems that, but I think there’s been quite a bit of twisting and he may geniunely be meaning he wanted to have done more at the time rather than coming back.

    • Anonymous

      August 11th, 2012 - 7:26am

      Jason doctorwhoone about Christopher Eccleston Matt Smith said he’s still hopeful for Eccleston’s return and at a Q&A at the National Theatre, Eccleston told audiences he thought there was “more for him to do” with the character. So perhaps he could be swayed yet?

    • Jason doctorwhoone

      August 12th, 2012 - 8:55am

      Well Chris has always been known to say no no matter who talks about Doctor Who to him.

  • the astronaut of death

    August 9th, 2012 - 9:06pm

    guys i have just been on the offical site

    and they have added loads of orange

    Reply
    • TARDISTIK

      August 9th, 2012 - 9:34pm

      Oh, I see what you mean…

    • Jason doctorwhoone

      August 10th, 2012 - 7:17am

      Yeah I noticed that too. I wonder why.

    • Tardis’nt

      August 10th, 2012 - 9:38am

      maybe they changed it because it is the colour of the end of the opening titles?

    • Jason doctorwhoone

      August 10th, 2012 - 5:04pm

      Tardis’nt – Yeah possibly. My thought was that it was ment to be Gallifrey, you know, burnt orange skies and all that.

  • McGann is the Doctor

    August 9th, 2012 - 8:19pm

    Seeing the words “Mark Gatiss” and “Doctor Who 50th anniversary” in the same sentence had me WORRIED but this is surprisingly good news, they will be making a documentary of it ! 🙂

    Reply
    • Some bloke

      August 10th, 2012 - 9:42pm

      not a documentary, a DRAMA, so actors will be playing key people like sydney newman, jacquelline hill etc

  • KORSAIR

    August 9th, 2012 - 7:15pm

    Looking forward to this,wonder if they’ll film it in black and white?

    Reply
    • Jason doctorwhoone

      August 10th, 2012 - 7:16am

      The opening moments of the story could be in black and white, and then fade into colour.

  • Cyberdevil

    August 9th, 2012 - 5:37pm

    Great idea. I hope it will get a DVD release

    Reply
    • Cyberdevil

      August 9th, 2012 - 5:39pm

      Just thought why don’t they get Doctor Who stars from across the 50 years to play the parts

    • Commander Strax

      August 12th, 2012 - 1:54pm

      Nice idea cyberdevil.

  • Dalek Strategist

    August 9th, 2012 - 5:14pm

    I was kind of hoping for a special 50th Anniversery story, but this sounds much better. I just hope they have the creation of the Daleks too

    Reply
    • booboo

      August 9th, 2012 - 8:46pm

      there will be that as well, this is a special one of

    • Anonymous

      August 10th, 2012 - 5:19pm

      didn’t they they say there would be 2 50th anniversary specials?

  • Give me a Dalek any day

    August 9th, 2012 - 3:35pm

    What a nice idea! I’m sure this will be good. 😀

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    August 9th, 2012 - 2:36pm

    I have always hoped that one day the BBC would do something like this a doctor who episode about the origen of dr who. I hope the show the filming of the daleks

    Reply
  • Liam

    August 9th, 2012 - 1:17pm

    What a great idea! Looks good.

    Reply
  • RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND

    August 9th, 2012 - 12:06pm

    erm, i thought SM was the head writer… so shouldnt he write it? to be honest, night terrors by mark gatiss wasnt that good…

    Reply
    • booboo

      August 9th, 2012 - 12:18pm

      no this is a docu drama not an episode totally different

    • DaDoctor

      August 9th, 2012 - 12:20pm

      He is… But a lot of people (Including myself) would rather see Gattis write it than Moffat. Plus, Moffat hasn’t the time seeing as he is doing Who and Sherlock at nearly the same time.

  • Dtron Wunder

    August 9th, 2012 - 12:01pm

    This is the 50th anniversary episode !?

    Reply
    • Rooners

      August 9th, 2012 - 12:06pm

      This appears to be a drama telling the story about the people who created the show…not an episode of the show.

  • anonymous

    August 9th, 2012 - 11:20am

    gary oldman as hartnell wud be good

    Reply
  • Earth Bound

    August 9th, 2012 - 10:41am

    do you think they might rebuild some of the original sets like the console room for this?

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      August 9th, 2012 - 10:56am

      Let’s hope so!!

    • Jason doctorwhoone

      August 10th, 2012 - 7:14am

      I’m sure as hell they will. We might even see replicas of the 4 original Dalek props made by Shaw Craft, and perhaps a replica of the original Tardis Police Box prop.

  • The master

    August 9th, 2012 - 10:40am

    Really going to look forward to this – also cant wait to see who the cast for all the parts, and will the show the shooting of the 1st episode i wonder?

    Reply
  • Davros Flatley

    August 9th, 2012 - 10:39am

    My Sky+ box will be full of Who next year hopefully they will repeat Classic episodes I want to watch Pyramids of Mars!!!

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      August 9th, 2012 - 10:56am

      why dont you just buy the dvd of it or get sarah jane adventures series 4 and its a bonus on that

    • Jason doctorwhoone

      August 10th, 2012 - 7:13am

      Yeah Pyramids of Mars is on DVD, you can get in WH Smith’s or HMV.

  • Peter

    August 9th, 2012 - 10:38am

    this will be great to see haw it all began

    Reply
  • Doctor Who DVD Collector

    August 9th, 2012 - 10:30am

    Oh. My. God. I am so gonna record this on my Sky+ box and keep it forever!! I am also gonna get this on DVD too!

    Reply
  • Alex_The_Geek

    August 9th, 2012 - 10:29am

    The first (hopefully of many) 50th anniversary specials. I look forward to watching how Verity Lambert and her team created Doctor Who.

    Reply

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